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11
Yunnan Province.
The energetic Viceroy has shown great zeal in reducing smoking and cultivation in and near the capital. Practically all the ground is now planted with other crops. He has reduced the abolition time limit from ten to three years, and cultivators are registered. At Talifu the officials and gentry are giving up the habit.
Kiangsi Province.
Practically no opium is grown in this province. Smokers are registered in the towns, but not in the country districts. Government bureaux for the sale of prepared opium exist in several districts, and the Legation is at present protesting against them in connection with foreign opium.
In conclusion, it may be said that, although there may still be difficulties to be overcome before the drug is definitely exterminated from the Chinese Empire, the Central Government, owing to their determined attitude, the assistance they have received from foreign Governments, the energy of some of the provincial officials, and last, but not least, the somewhat unexpected moral support of the Chinese people, may look upon the battle as already won.
APPENDIX (A).
Anti-Opium Regulations.
Memorial presented by the Wai-wu Pu on March 22, 1908, with reference to the Arrangements concluded with Foreign Powers.
(Translation.)
ON the 22nd November, 1906, a Memorial embodying proposals for carrying out the prohibition of opium was submitted to the Throne by the Government Council, and the following Imperial Rescript was issued: "Approved." A copy of this Memorial was forwarded by the Grand Council to the Board.
In the 10th section of the Memorial the following passage occurs:—
"The question of foreign opium, which is imported from abroad, impinges on our foreign relations, and the Board of Foreign Affairs should therefore make a satisfactory arrangement with the British Minister with a view to effecting an annual decrease of the import of foreign opium pari passu with the decrease of native opium, so that both may be absolutely prohibited on the expiry of the time limit.
"Besides Indian opium, the drug is also imported from Persia, Annam, and the Dutch Indies in no small quantities. In the case of the Treaty Powers negotiations should similarly be entered into with their Representatives in Peking to effect the prohibition of such import; while with the non-Treaty Powers we can exercise our own prerogative in strictly forbidding the import.
"All Tartar Generals, Military Lieutenant-Governors, Governors-General, and Governors should also direct their subordinate authorities and Commissioners of Customs to take preventive measures along the trade routes and frontiers to stop smuggling.
As regards morphia and the instruments used for its injection, the effects of which are even more injurious than those of opium itself, proper effect should be given to the stipulations laid down in Article 2 of the British Commercial Treaty and Article 16 of the American Commercial Treaty, and instructions be issued to all custom-houses to disallow the import of any morphia or instrument into China which are not for medical use; while a strict prohibition must be enforced against any shops in China, whether native or foreign, manufacturing morphia or instruments for its injection."
The Board then prepared a Memorandum embodying six proposals and forwarded it to His Majesty's Minister at Peking for transmission to His Majesty's Government. These proposals were as follows:-
"1. To decrease the amount of foreign opium imported year by year, until it finally disappears. Taking the average of the annual import of foreign opium for the preceding five years (1901-5) as the figure to work upon, to reduce the import by one-tenth each year after 1907, so that it shall disappear entirely in ten years.
2. Calcutta being the chief emporium for foreign opium, we proposed that China should appoint an officer to proceed to Calcutta for the purpose of watching the opium auctions and the packing, in order to ascertain the actual quantities of foreign opium delivered for export,
3. The strength of foreign opium is double that of the native drug. Although, however, the duty on native opium has been raised to 115 taels per picul, the combined duty and li-kin on foreign opium remains at 110 taels. We proposed, therefore, that as a prohibitive measure the duty on foreign opium should be doubled.
4. Hong Kong being a place where foreign opium is prepared, the Governor of Hong Kong should be asked to assist us by strictly forbidding the export to China of prepared foreign opium. 5. With regard to the opium shops and opium dens, as well as the shops for selling appliances for opium smoking in the foreign Settlements and Concessions, we proposed that the measures for the inspection and prohibition of such places should be similar to those adopted by the Chinese territorial authorities.
6. The British and American Commercial Treaties already contemplate steps to be taken for effecting the prohibition against the dangers involved in the importation of morphia and instruments for its injection. But the adhesion of all the Treaty Powers is necessary before this Article comes into operation. We proposed that this Article should be put into effective operation as soon as possible."
After much discussion and correspondence in the course of last year the following Agreement was arrived at between His Majesty's Minister and the Board:--
1. Taking the total export of Indian opium to all countries to be 51,000 chests, this quantity is to be decreased annually by 5,100 chests, so as to put an end to the traffic entirely in ten years from 1908.
"2. An officer will be sent to Calcutta to watch the opium auctions and the packing, but it shall be clearly understood that this officer is there solely for the purpose of ascertaining the actual quantities of foreign opium delivered for export and has no other authority.
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