(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
{
[10978]
(No. 2.) Sir,
No. 1.
42
16523
[April
REGE 9 MAY 07
SECTION 11.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 6.)
Yunnan-fu, February 16, 1907. I HAVE the honour to inclose copy of Intelligence Reports on affairs in Yüunan and Kueichow recently submitted to His Majesty's Minister.
I have, &c. (Signed)
W. H. WILKINSON.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Intelligence Report respecting Affairs in Yünnan-fu and Kueichow.
Commercial.
Native Opium.-The enforcement of the ten Regulations for the suppression of opium-growing and opium-smoking has been put off till after the approaching China. New Year (13th February, 1907). It is true that, at all events in the immediate neighbourhood of Yunnan-fu, there is a very considerable decrease in the area under poppy cultivation; but although certain timid or cautious farmers may have taken alarm at the recent edicts, I am assured that the great majority of the planters were influenced rather by the fact that the crop of 1905-6 could not be sold at a profit. Large stocks remained in the hands of the dealers, and local opium was being retailed at 12 taels the 100 Chinese ounces.
The weather, again, was unfavourable. During last December no rain at all fell, and the poppy seeds failed to germinate. The consequence is that the retail price has now advanced to 28 or 29 taels per 100 ounces, in addition to the consolidated tax of 115 taels a picul. I am told by no less a person than the head of the city li-kin collectorate, himself an opium smoker, that the result will be to largely increase the acreage to be sown with the poppy next season (1907-8), which hardly looks as though active measures of suppression are contemplated.
I will endeavour to obtain copies of any local Regulations or Proclamations that may be issued. I am informed that the Provincial Government has reported to Peking that a return of the acreage under poppy cannot be made.
Transport. The cost of transport, particularly between Tongking and Yunnan-fu, has greatly increased of late. For the eleven or twelve stages from Manhao (on the Red River) hither, as much as 13 dollars a-head has had to be paid for mules, almost exactly double the normal rate of 40 tael cents a-day. The reason assigned is the demand by the Government for mules to carry (a) the machinery for the new mint, (b) supplies of rice for the provincial capital. (Rice has been imported in considerable quantities from Kueichow.)
Mint. The buildings have been completed, but no machinery is in position, or, indeed, has yet reached Yüunan-fu. It is worth noting that the buildings have been erected without any foreign aid, and that the tall factory chimney has been set up without any objections on the score of "fengshui" such as prevailed some years ago when the Arsenal was built. A detailed report shall be submitted when the Mint is in working order,
A French Firm, L'Union Commerciale Indo-Chinoise, has established one of its Chinese assistants at a shop in Yunnan city, where foreign goods are sold, notably wines, beer, cigars, and groceries. The assistant is, I understand, given a price under which he must not sell, but over which he may make for himself what profit he can; he is also paid a fixed salary. The result seems to be that few sales are effected, the prices asked being exorbitant. Recently a young Italian, M. Aurely, has been seut to Yunnan-fu by the firm, and has taken up his quarters at the Railway Compound, now all but vacant. M. Aurely tells me that it is proposed, as soon as Yunnan-fu is opened as
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