the matter, referred to the Commission for report. Moreover the Anti-Opium Society, which began the agitation that led to the appointment of the Royal Commission, considers the Cluvia side of the question to be the more important, and has produced
a number of witnesses to testify that opium will, and in China does, soil, and only that "continuously". These witnesses also say that Chinese public opinion calls for the inhibition of the Indian opium trade. Some further witnesses, of Chinese experience, officials and commercial men, have come
before the Commission and give evidence of a different colour.
But the Commission can hardly probe this part of the subject without obtaining evidence from Chinese and other residents on the spot.
The Commission had not intended to remit to China or the Strait Settlements; and desire me to enquire whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies would be willing to send out to the Governments of the Straits Settlements, and Hongkong interrogatories on the prima facie question.
If the Marquess of Ripon were willing to do this, then the Commission would frame and send interrogatories. The evidence on these questions could be taken at, say, Singapore, Penang, Hongkong, and Shanghai.
3
340
4
willing
Jatones
by