442
4
the opium trade as carried on in this Settlement will immediately strengthen the power and prestige of the Council as a governing body, both in its relations with Chinese officials and in its dealings with the Chinese Resident in the Settlement.
Trusting that this Resolution will meet with careful and sympathetic consideration, and will commend itself to your judgment, I have, &c.
(Signed) W. NELSON BITTON,
Chairman of Executive Committee,
5
Before the close of the year the anti-opium movement will probably have for 1908-9 made considerable strides, whereupon the community will be in a position to decide upon further steps in the direction which you have at heart, leading to the total abolition of the opium habit in the Settlement.
I am, &c.
(Signed) W. E. LEVESON, Secretary.
Inclosure 8 in No. 1.
Rev. W. Bitton to Mr. W. Leveson.
Resolution.
Whereas on the 12th January, 1907, the Chairman of the Shanghae Municipal Council, in a letter to the Shanghae Taotai, assured him of the sincere sympathy of the Council with the movement toward the suppression of the use of opium, and gave assurance that as soon as there was evidence of the bona fide intentions of the Chinese Government to give practical effect to their protestations the active co-operation of the foreign Settlements would follow;
And whereas Tientsin and other foreign communities in China have already ceased licensing opium dens;
And whereas Chinese public opinion in this Settlement has expressed itself strongly and consistently in favour of the closing of all opium dens, and eagerly anticipates such action on the part of the Council;
And whereas the official licensing of opium dens has been stopped throughout this province;
It is hereby resolved:
That this Committee respectfully petition the Shanghae Municipal Council to provide for the withdrawal of all licences for opium smoking in this Settlement during the forthcoming financial year, making such provision for their suppression within that period as shall seem most practicable.
Sir,
(In behalf of the Shanghae Missionary Association),
(Signed) G. H. BONDFIELD, Chairman.
H. LI. W. BEVAN. TIMOTHY RICHARD.
C. J. F. SYMONS.
H. S. V. MYERS.
D. MACGILLIVRAY,
W. NELSON BITTON, Chairman of Executive Committee.
Inclosure 7 in No. 1.
Mr. W. Leveson to Rev. W. Bitton.
Council Room, Shanghae, February 29, 1908.
I AM directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th February, inclosing a Resolution passed by your Committee upon the subject of the suppression of opium houses in this Settlement.
In reply thereto, I am, in the first place, to allude to the Minute on the subject published on the 27th February, wherein is an indication of the policy which the Council proposes to adopt in this important matter at the forthcoming meeting of ratepayers.
It will be readily recognized by yourself, and by those who are associated with you in this movement, that the closing of more than 1,500 licensed establishments is not a measure which can be undertaken without the fullest consideration and due precaution, and, in approaching the task, the Council has of necessity been influenced by the administrative difficulties which present themselves, and by the police aspect of the matter.
It is the opinion of the members that too sudden or too drastic suppressive measures, while possibly achieving their object in form, would introduce other conditions perhaps no less harmful to this community than those which it is sought to amend.
With these considerations in view, the Council is prepared to recommend for the ratepayers' approval a reduction in the number of licences by one-quarter, with effect from the 1st July, or from such other early date as may appear advisable to the Council.
Sir,
London Mission, Shanghae, March 3, 1908. I HAVE to thank you for the letter of the 29th February, sent in reply to the Resolution forwarded from this Committee concerning the abolition of the system of licensing opium houses in the Settlement, in which the Council draws attention to the difficulties of administration consequent upon the closing of these houses, and further states that the Council is prepared to recommend to the ratepayers a reduction during this year of one-quarter in the number of opium licences,
In reply to this, I am instructed to ask if it may be understood that this reduction of one-quarter from, say, the 1st July, 1908, is to be the first of a series of consecutive reductions of 25 per cent. which the Council intends to recommend? Should the Council see its way to announce to the ratepayers that this reduction is the first in a series of similar reductions to take effect in four consecutive periods of six months, effectively dealing with the whole of the licences within a period of two years from the date of its inception, then this Committee, realizing that administrative difficulties call for time for readjustment and settlement, expresses its belief that such action on the part of the Council would find favour and support among that large section of the ratepayers and community of Shanghae which earnestly desires to co-operate with the British and Chinese Governments in their efforts to accomplish the opium reform. At the same time, this Committee would urge upon the Council the policy of accelerating the closing of these houses with a view to the entire abolition of the opium habit from Shanghae, should administrative difficulties prove of easier solution than now seems possible.
I beg, &c.
(Signed) W. NELSON BITTON,
Chairman of Executive.
Inclosure 9 in No. 1.
Consul-General Sir P. Warren to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 27.) Sir,
Shanghae, March 10, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 26 of the 5th instant, I have the honour to inclose herewith copies of two further letters exchanged between the Shanghae Municipal Council and the Shanghae Missionary Association, on the question of closing the licensed opium dens within the limits of the Settlement.
Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed) PELHAM L. WARREN.
Inclosure 10 in No. 1.
Mr. W. Leveson to Rev. W. Bitton.
Council Room, Shanghae, March 5, 1908. IN reply to your letter of the 3rd March, in respect to the reduction of opium licences, I am directed to inform you that the diminution of 25 per cent. from the 1st July is proposed as a genuine part of a programme of periodic reductions to extend over a period of two years. While the Council is unwilling to bind its successors in office explicitly to any course of action, or to tie their hands in a matter so closely affecting their administration of the Settlement, the course which your Committee sketches will doubtless be followed, and possibly accelerated, if the present policy of