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Chengtu.
His Majesty's Acting Consul-General, reporting early in June on the attitude of the Provincial Government towards the eradication of the opium habit, states that the first points over which the Government is likely to come into collision with the people are the collection of the new opium tax and the closing of the opium dens. As regards the first, the struggle has begun, as it has been reported from Kai-hsien that the mob had raided and destroyed the recently-established opium hongs in that city, while from various small towns in the Chengtu Plain news comes of riots directed against these unpopular establishments. The poppy has been harvested in most places, and the new season's opium is now being placed on the market. There are rumours that the authorities, in face of the growing opposition to the new tax, are endeavouring to obtain the permission of the Central Government to revert to the old system. These rumours were confirmed in conversation between the Taotai of Chunking and the Acting British Consal at that port. On the other hand, a Proclamation by the Provincial Director of opium taxation, which must have been issued shortly before or even after the conversation above referred to, reiterates the Government's intention to proceed with the new tax of 115 taels per picul on all opium, whether for export or local consumption, and warns the people of the consequences their refusal to pay the tax will entail. A reversion to the old rate will have the effect of cheapening the drug for local consumers, and it is difficult to see how the Chinese Government can sanction such a retrograde step.
As regards the second point, a Proclamation was issued by the Viceroy on the 31st May indicating that the opium divans would be closed on the 9th August, and that the preparation and sale of opium would be a Government monopoly. In Chengtu, with the assistance of an efficient police, it is possible they may succeed, though not without some resistance being offered; but in the provinces, more particularly in the opium producing centres east and south of Chunking, the issue seems very doubtful, and will depend entirely on the power of the local officials to enforce their orders.
The Acting Viceroy subsequently informed His Majesty's Consul-General that, realizing what a serious, possibly fatal, matter the closing of all opium divans and shops on the 9th August would be for the poorer classes of opium smokers, be had ordered arrangements to be made for the opening of official opium shops where prepared opium and opium requisites would be sold in small quantities to all registered smokers. His Excellency said that the people objected to this method of suppressing the use of opium because it deprived the poor of their pipe by making the price prohibitive, and made opium smoking a luxury of the rich.
Reports from missionaries in the Province of Szechuan are as follows:-
Pao Ning-fu. New Proclamation ordering opiam divans to be closed on the 9th August. Opium smokers to be registered. The people are reported to be callous.
Mien Chu Hsien.--Opium dens are ordered to be closed by the 9th August (end of 6th moon), no tax to be collected on opium dens after 3rd moon. A Proclamation exhorting people to abandon opium cultivation was issued by the Magistrate last autumn. Only about 1 per cent. of ground is under cultivation this spring. People are sympathetic, and some "mildly enthusiastic."
Nan Pu-Hsien-Proclamation posted containing usual orders re closing of opium diraus. No official steps taken to reduce area under enltivation, but many farmers have voluntarily destroyed crops, fearing reduced demand this year. Marked increase in
number of persous applying for opium remedies at Mission dispensary.
Yung Hsien-Proclamation against poppy growing issued by Magistrate last year. Great reduction of area under cultivation noticeable this year. Officials sympathetic, and people cuthusiastic.
Hsin Tien Tzu (Tsung Chi Hsien, north of Pao Ning).-Proclamation posted, but no definite measures taken to restrict sale of opium. Not an opium growing district.
Kuan Hsien-Imperial (anti-opium) Decree posted in January 1907. Register of smokers and non-smokers opened in Magistrate's yamên, the former given a limit in which to abandon habit on pain of disinissal. Attitude of officials and gentry favour- able; small area under cultivation; opium dens to be closed at end of 6th moon (9th August).
Tan Lan Hsien (near Mei Chou)-Opium divans closed by Magistrate's orders (25th May, 1907).
Chungking,
Missionary reports received from the Consular district are not encouraging. A general review of them gives the impression that the local officials are waiting for more precise and detailed instructions as to the methods by which they are to carry out the Edict, being themselves unwilling to take the responsibility for a course of action calculated to rouse violent popular opposition. One measure alone will in all probability be enforced, ie, the closing of all opium dens in the 6th moon, but disturbances are almost certain to arise when the frequenters of opium dens are thrown upon their own resources. In the meantime the officials are for the most part content to fill in the time trifling with more or less innocuous anti-opium medicines.
At
Suifu and Chiangan.-There has been little done except in the medicine line. Suifu an attempt has been made to register smokers, and at Chiangan there is talk of opening official depôts for the sale of opium.
Kueichou Province.-The same conditions prevail here as in Szechuan.
Hankow.
His Majesty's Consul-General, in summarizing further reports received from missionaries stationed in Honan, Hupei, Hunan, Kansu, and Sheusi, states that "the reports from Honan (three in number) state that Proclamations were issued and dates given for closing the dens, but that no official action has since been taken. The Governor is reported to have broken off the habit, but otherwise absolute indifference seems to mark the attitude of officials and gentry alike. The ground in the vicinity of the provincial capital is too poor to produce poppy, and although no new ground has been planted with poppy in the other districts under consideration, the general impression seems to be that the failure to plant is dictated by a feeling of uncertainty, owing to the undecisive nature of the official warning, rather than by any desire to obey the Edict. In Ching Tze Kuan, however, two-thirds of the old poppy ground was planted with wheat this year.
The replies to queries 4, 5, and 6 (respecting restrictions on smokers, closing of oplum dens or shops, inspection of opium dens) are uniformly negative, while answers to query 7 (respecting use of medicines to cure habit) furnish no more satisfactory state- ment than that a few poor have been relieved by the aid of the missions. The replies on which this despatch is based, with very few exceptions, offer little variety-" none,' "nothing," "nothing at all," and "indifference" appearing most frequently although in some cases it is apparent, in spite of all the optimistic writer is endeavouring to persuade himself, that something "may" be done in the future.
Hupei (two Reports) ---Proclamations issued only in Hu-cheng hsien, where one inspection was held, an official register of the opium dens (forty-nine in all) made, and a limit of six months given for closing. Mr. Sibley adds that the Ku-ch'eng Magistrate pulled up all his own crop, but minimizes the apparent virtue of this action by stating that he did so guided by a hope that money might be made out of supporting the prohibition. Beyond this action of the Magistrate nothing has been done, although it is said that the gentry have tried to break off the habit.
In Ku-ch'eng the poppy is not sufficiently cultivated for any observations under query 3, and it is stated that in Chun-chou and Yun-yang 70 to 80 per cent. of the land is under poppy, and that there is an increase in ground planted. An emphatic negative or absolute silence marks all the answers to the next three queries, ie., respecting restrictions on smokers, closing of and inspecting of shops or dens. Regarding the use of medicines to cure the habit, the only cure offered in the majority of cases is a pill containing either morphia or opinn; but Mr. Sibley states that merchants and missionaries are selling à medicine put up at Shanghae, and adds that thousands will use the Indian anti-opium medicines if it proves a success.
Hunan-Yuan-chou Fu and Chih-chiang hsien.-It appears from this report that the steps taken in these districts have been more genuine than those taken elsewhere. On the 23rd May the Governor issued a Proclamation referring to the Ten Articles," and detailing measures to be taken by the officials, touching also in a general way on the closing of dens, &c. December is fixed as the date for closing, and the sale is to be restricted if possible to one licensed shop; moreover, refuges are to be opened in which assistance can be got by those wishing to get cured.
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