This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
2
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated by Wai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan, January 10, 1908.
(Translation.)
Opium Prohibition.
THE Board have received Sir John Jordan's Memorandum of the 7th instant pointing out that the figure 51,000 chests includes all the consignments made from India to Hong Kong and the Treaty ports of China, and that it would be more advantageous to China that India should reduce her total export by 5,100 chests than by 4,232 chests per annum.
In reply, the Board would observe that the figure they gave as the average had reference to the quantity of opium imported. That quoted by His Majesty's Government had reference to the quantity of opium exported.
To limit the export is naturally more convenient than to limit the import. Only for the first two years would the figure be comparatively high, while after ten years' time the export would finally cease altogether.
The Board are sensible of the efforts which His Majesty's Government are making to afford assistance and are most grateful. But, they would point out, the underlying motive in this case is to eradicate opium, and, if to the existing import figure an addition of 8,680 chests were made, they consider that the result would be in direct opposition to the principle they have in view.
They propose therefore to reduce the excess figure by one-half, thus making a fixed total import of 46,660 chests. This figure would be annually reduced by 4,666 chests, and by this means a middle course affecting both parties equally would be arrived at, while there would be greater security if the licitation of the export to China and Hong Kong were to be undertaken at the Indian end.
The Chinese Government rely wholly upon the support of His Majesty's Government in this matter. The Board therefore request Sir John Jordan to transmit their proposal and obtain its acceptance so that it may be put into effect.
With regard to precautions against transhipment and alteration of destination, these can be postponed for further discussion.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated by Sir J. Jordan to Wai-wu Pu.
Opium.
SIR JOHN JORDAN has had under consideration the Board's Memorandum of the 10th January proposing that the total import of opium from India into China be fixed at 46,660 chests, which figure would be annually reduced by 4,666 chests.
Sir John Jordan sees great difficulty in this proposal. The Board seems to think that the limitation of the export to China and Hong Kong might be undertaken at the Indian end, but, as Sir J. Jordan pointed out in his Memorandum of the 7th January, any restriction which might be imposed in India on the quantity of opium shipped for any given destination would always be liable to evasion by transhipment or an alteration of the ship's destination. The Board says, in reference to this, that precautions could be taken after further discussion.
Under such an arrangement of directly restricting import at the Treaty ports, India would, moreover, be free to regulate export as demanded by the market.
It should be clearly understood by the Imperial Government that the choice lies between the limitation by India of the total export to all countries and direct limitation by China herself of the import into the Treaty ports. The latter plan, as already stated, could not be put into operation until it had received the assent of all the Treaty Powers.
Of the two alternatives, there is no doubt, in Sir John Jordan's mind, that the proposal of the Government of India is more advantageous to China, and he would earnestly ask the Board to reconsider the matter before coming to a final decision.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[10442]
[March 27.]
273
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received March 27.)
(No. 93.)
Peking, February 25, 1908, Sir,
I DULY transmitted to His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae the pamphlet entitled "Another Opium War," which was forwarded in your despatch No. 509 of the 12th December last, and have now the honour to inclose copy of a despatch from Sir Pelham Warren embodying his observations upon the paper in question.
As already reported, I have also forwarded to Sir Pelham Warren a copy of your despatch No. 47 of the 25th January, and, in requesting him to bring its contents to the knowledge of the Municipal Council, I have expressed the hope that they will recognize the wisdom of acting upon the advice of His Majesty's Government.
The meeting of the ratepayers will take place next month, and it seems advisable to await their decision before moving further in the matter. But even should it be unfavourable, it does not, I conceive, necessarily follow that the question is finally settled. The Chinese Government might appeal to the Treaty Powers, and, if they could show that they had themselves taken effective measures for the suppression of opium dens, their appeal would probably command a sufficient measure of support and sympathy on the part of a majority of the Powers to insure the application of pressure which the Municipal Council at Shanghae would find it difficult to resist.
What Shanghae appears to fear is that, as in the case of the question of the abolition of the bamboo, the Settlement there will become the field for an experiment which is not made applicable to the rest of China.
How far this apprehension is well founded it is difficult to say, but the opinion I have formed, after a careful study of Reports from all parts of the Empire, is that the Chinese Government, considering the immense difficulties of the task, have on the whole attained as great a measure of success in diminishing the opium evil as could reasonably be expected.
The latest Reports, three of which I inclose as specimens, seem, however, to show that there is a lack of sustained effort and a tendency to revert to the old order of things.
Mr. Fox states that in the great opium-producing province of Szechuan little progress is being made, that there is no perceptible reduction of the area under cultivation, and that the rigorous measures taken six months ago in the provincial capital have entirely been relaxed.
Mr. Pearson's Report from Chekiang, the province adjoining Shanghae, describes the set-back which has taken place in the anti-opium movement since the arrival of the new Governor a few months ago. The missionaries to whom, in Chekiang as elsewhere, we are indebted for most of our information on the subject, seem to consider that practically nothing is being done in this province towards the suppression of the habit.
The Report from Manchuria, the author of which is a well-known medical missionary who has a wide knowledge of the three provinces, is much more encouraging, and shows what can be done by the personal influence of a man like his Excellency Tong, who has the courage to give practical effect to his convictions.
I have the honour to return herewith Mr. Broomball's pamphlet.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
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