[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
25167 [Jun24] 426
REGE 16 JUL 07, SECTION 1:
1
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No. 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, June 24, 1907.
Mr. Hart-Davies,-To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to a notification recently published in the Province of Chih-li, telling the poppy farmers to go on with their cultivation of poppy, and pointing out that the suppression of opium would cause great loss of revenue; and whether he has any official information that the Chinese Government will take any really effective steps to put down opium-smoking if the Government of India restrict their export of the drug.
Answer by Mr. Runciman (for Sir Edward Grey).
My right honourable friend's attention has been called to the notification issued by the Opium Tax Bureau of Chib-li, which is doubtless that referred to by the honourable Member. Although it urges the farmers not prematurely to stop the cultivation of opium, it states that a time limit of ten years exists, within which opium cultivation must cease, so that it is not actually in disagreement with the terms of the Imperial Decree. With regard to the second part of the honourable Member's question, my right honourable friend is unable at present to offer an opinion as to whether the Regulations which have been issued will prove successful or not.
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