[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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# CHINA TRADE
## CONFIDENTIAL
[September 25.]
## SECTION
C O
13804
[32438]
No. 1.
The Archbishop of Canterbury to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received September 25. 27 NOV OF)
Lambeth Palace, London, September 24, 1906,
Dear Sir Edward Grey,
THE inclosed Memorial addressed to myself, but only as an intermediary, belongs really to His Majesty's Government, and I think I am right in transmitting it to yourself as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. I was in some doubt as to whether it ought not to go rather to the India Office; but if that is its proper destination, you will, no doubt, kindly send it thither. Any document emanating from men whose experience in China has been so prolonged and whose service has been so faithful as that of the signatories, would have a weight of its own upon a matter of this kind. In this instance, however, the Memorial has a further value, owing to the fact that some of its signatories are not merely enthusiastic missionaries, but scholarly, thoughtful, and exceedingly practical men of affairs; and the signature of the Bishop of Victoria (Bishop Hoare) has to-day a melancholy interest at a time when we are mourning the death which overtook him in the recent typhoon. I may mention that he talked the matter over with me when he was last in England a few months ago, and I was struck by the largeness and moderation of his view. These characteristics are not always found among the enthusiasts on this particular question.
I am, &c.
(Signed) RANDALL CANTUAR.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorial from the Bishops of the Anglican Communion in China to his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.
THE undersigned Bishops of the Anglican Communion in China desire very respectfully to request his Grace to represent to His Majesty's Government their unaltered conviction that the prevalence of opium smoking and other forms of indulgence in opiates has exercised, and is exercising, a disastrous influence on the Chinese people and their Rulers, both physically and morally; and that the peculiar connection with the opium trade of His Majesty's Government has given rise to a certain prejudice against Great Britain and against Christianity, of which Great Britain is a foremost representative.
The Bishops, having individually stated this conviction on various occasions in past years, are induced to renew such statements collectively by the following considerations:
The Chinese Government has recently resolved to convert the opium trade in China into a Government monopoly, in order partly, no doubt, to raise a larger revenue on the drug, but also, ostensibly with a view to checking the opium vice, by imposing a licence, not only on all vendors, but also all purchasers, of opium.
Two of the most influential Chinese Viceroys, their Excellencies Yuan Shih-kai and Chang Chih-tung, having both within the last few years denounced the opium habit, the former has recently issued orders tending to stamp out the vice among his numerous civil and military subordinates.
Lastly, the publications of the Young China party have recently drawn attention to the vigour and efficiency of the Japanese Government, and the courage and loyalty of the Japanese people, connecting these high qualities with the rigid prohibition of opium smoking as, at least, a contributing cause.
In view of these considerations, the undersigned Bishops venture to hope that it may be possible for His Majesty's Government, even at this late hour, to adopt a policy in relation to opium which may in some degree vindicate the British and
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