524
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In all Government colleges, schools, industrial institutions, the police, and in the army the prohibition is strictly enforced. Generally speaking, in regard to the rest of China, it may be said that not much progress has been made in the way of obeying this Article. There are instances of officials having given up the habit, and of attempts being made to do so; also instances of officials being dismissed, but they are few and far between.
The military authorities, however, are very strict about it in the Inchun (national army), and they profess to be equally so in the provincial armies, though it may be doubted whether the same energy is displayed in their case. The penalty for smoking opium in the army is death, but there is no proof of an execution having taken place. This, however, is negative evidence, as no foreigner is allowed to see a soldier punished. Lieutenant-Colonel Pereira, His Majesty's Military Attaché, is of opinion that, whilst officers in the first six divisions of the national army would not smoke, it is probable that there are cases in the national army in the provinces. In the capital the recent dismissal from office of a number of high dignitaries and Princes who had failed to break off the habit within the prescribed limit of time shows the continued interest taken in the movement by the Court.
The Imperial Maritime Customs issued two Circulars in December 1906 to those employed in the service, the one bringing the Decree to their notice, the other calling for a report in July 1907 giving the names of such subordinates in the service as still continue to use the drug, their age and length of service. The replies to this Circular, taken all round, have shown that smoking is not general among the native staff, and that where formerly indulged in it had in most instances ceased, or was being gradually given up.
It became necessary to dismiss a few whose efficiency had been diminished by the use of the drug.
Art. 10. To enter into negotiations for the prohibition of the import of foreign opium in order to close the sources of the supply.
No foreign opium is imported into the Province of Szechuan, which produces more than is required for its own consumption.
Negotiations are being conducted with His Majesty's Government, and the reply of the Chinese Government to the counter-proposals of the Indian Government is still awaited. The essential features of these negotiations were as follows: China proposed to annually restrict the import of Indian opium so that it would totally disappear within ten years, and in the meanwhile to double the import duty on Indian opium, which they alleged contained double the strength of the native-grown drug. The Indian Government, in reply, accepted unreservedly the good faith of the Chinese Government in putting forth this project of reform, were willing to face the eventual loss of 3,000,000 annual revenue at present derived from opium, but suggested that instead of China restricting the import of Indian opium the Government of India should reduce the gross export from India for a period of three years, and that this progressive diminution should continue after these three years if within that period of three years the production and consumption of opium in China had been proportionately diminished by the Chinese Government, and if the restrictions of the import of Turkish, Persian, and other opium had been arranged for and carried out simultaneously. The proposed increased duty on Indian opium was considered undesirable for various reasons, and the Chinese contention as to the relative strength of the two kinds (Indian and Chinese) not proven. Here the matter stands, and the reply of the Chinese Government awaited.
Should these counter-proposals of the Indian Government be favourably received by the Chinese Government, it is much to be hoped that in approaching the Governments of the other Treaty Powers on the subject they will meet, not only with the same self-sacrificing spirit which has been shown by the Government of India, but with the same willingness to assist in the laudable endeavour to free the Chinese Empire from a national scourge.
The importation of Indian opium into China in 1906 was 53,430 piculs, while the total importation from other sources was only 795 piculs, from which it will be seen that the pecuniary interest of other countries in the trade is practically non-existent.
Art. 11. All Tartar Generals, Governors-General, and Governors of provinces should direct the civil and military authorities in their jurisdictions to issue Proclamations promulgating these Rules for earnest observance,
This Article has been complied with.
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As foreign nations occupy a peculiar position in China by virtue of their Concessions, Settlements, and leased territories, it will be well to draw attention to the steps they have each taken to uphold or carry out the principles of the Opium Edict.
Germany.--No opium dens have ever been allowed in the two German Concessions at Tien-tsin and Hankow, and the same may be said of Tsingtao, the new town created in the German leased territory of Kiauchow.
Japan. No opium dens are permitted in the Japanese Concessions, as far as is known. In some of the Settlements measures are being taken, at the request of the Chinese authorities, to prevent smoking by Chinese, but at Antung there are any number of dens in use in the Japanese Settlement.
Russia. There are only two Concessions, Hankow and Tien-tsin. In the former opium smoking is prohibited by order of the Municipal Council. In the latter the Russian Consul has been instructed to act with his colleagues in the matter of the suppression of smoking. In regard to the leased railway territory, the Administration has come to an understanding with the Chinese authorities with a view to enforcing the Opium Regulations in the near future.
America has no independent Concessions.
France. All dens have been closed in the French Concession at Tien-tsin. Shanghai, where there is an independent French Concession, the measures adopted have not been of so radical a nature. No new licences have been issued by the municipality since the 1st July last. The licence tax has been increased fourfold, and females prohibited from entering the establishments, with the result that twenty-five dens have found it necessary to close their doors.
England. There are now no opium establishments of any kind in any of the British Concessions in China, and the International Settlement in Shanghai is the only one which has to be considered in connection with Article 5 of the Decree.
Any action which is taken in the matter rests with the Municipal Council, which is an international institution.
The Chairman has, through the Senior Consul, assured the Taotai of the Council's sympathy with the movement, and promised that as soon as there was evidence of bona fides on the part of the Chinese Government to give practical effect to the Decree the active co-operation of the foreign authorities in the International Settlement would follow.
On the 22nd June last the 700 native dens were closed, and the Taotai renewed his request that similar steps should be taken in connection with the 1,600 dens which exist in the International Settlement.
He was informed in reply that the course which had been adopted in the Chinese city of converting dens into shops for the retail sale of the drug, if adopted in the Settlement, would not tend to check the opium habit, and the Council suggested that, before they took action, some endeavour should be made to decrease the large areas in the interior under poppy cultivation:
The Council had also to consider the municipal finances, which look to opium as one source of revenue, and assert that before the month of March, when the annual meeting of ratepayers takes place, they had not the power to introduce any alteration in the system of taxation then in force. The Council obtains 75,000 taels a-year from opium dens. In view of the genuine efforts made by the native authorities at Shanghai and other cities to grapple with the evil, the Chinese Government can hardly be expected to be satisfied with the attitude of the Municipal Council of Shanghai.
Italy. All opium dens have been closed since January 1907 in the Italian Concession at Tien-tsin, and a special Article is to be inserted in the Regulations for the Concession which are being drawn up, forbidding such establishments and commerce in future.
Belgium has one Concession only, at Tien-tsin, and opium dens have never been allowed in it.
Austria has only one Concession, also at Tien-tsin, and all dens have been closed in it since the 8th August, 1907.