This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[9438]
No. 1.
625
[March 23.]
SECTION 3
C.O.
13822
Pres Part 19 APR 07:
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received March 23.) (No. 73.) Sir,
Peking, February 6, 1907. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch which I have received from Mr. Tours, Acting British Consul at Chinkiang, inquiring what attitude he should assume towards opium shops existing within the British Con- cession.
I also have the honour to inclose copy of a despatch which I have addressed to Mr. Tours in reply. In the British Concessions at Tien-tsin and Canton there are no opium dens, and I am making inquiries as to how far they exist at other ports. It would, in my opinion, be desirable that the Municipal Councils of all British Conces- sions should be moved to close any opium shops or dens that may exist in them, even before His Majesty's Consuls are approached on the subject by the Chinese authorities; but pending the receipt of instructions from you on the whole question of the assistance to be given to the Chinese Government in their endeavours to suppress the opium habit, I have thought it better in my despatch to Mr. Tours to confine myself to instructing him, in the event only of his being approached by the local authorities, to give them the assurance that he is ready to take measures for the closing of opium shops in the Concession similar to those that may be put into practice by them outside. For the rest, he need not initiate any action until the receipt of further instructions.
(No. 2.) Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Tours to Sir J. Jordan.
Chinkiang, January 24, 1907. IN view of your Confidential Circular of the 1st December last, I have the honour to inquire what attitude this Consulate should assume towards opium shops existing within the British Concession.
I have permitted the Meeting of Landrenters to renew the opium-shop licences for the year 1907, but I informed the Meeting that permission was entirely conditional upon any attitude I may be called upon to take up as a result of the recent Regula- tions against opium.
I have, &c. (Signed)
B. G. TOURS.
(No. 2.) Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Acting Consul Tours.
Peking, February 6, 1907. I HAVE received your despatch No. 2 of the 24th ultimo, inquiring what attitude you should observe towards opium shops existing within the British Concession.
In reply, I have to inform you that, in a Memorandum handed to me by the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu on the 29th November last, His Majesty's Government were requested, among other things, to take the lead in giving the necessary instruc- tions that in all foreign Settlements and Concessions the measures for the inspection and prohibition of opium shops and dens shall be similar to those adopted by the Chinese authorities.
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