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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-n 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 Powera 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 Commissionera 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 Govemment. 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 cmporium for foreign opium, we proposed that China should appoint an officer to proceed to Calentta 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
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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 morphin 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 foreigu opium delivered for export and has no other authority,
3. In view of the difficulty of ascertaining the amount of dues levied on native opium and its price, the proposal to double the duty on foreign opium shall be postponed for future discussion.
4. As regards the prohibition to export opium prepared in Hong Kong to China, it was arranged that each country should take steps within its own territory to prohibit the illicit importation of opium, and the export of Houg Kong prepared opinm to China and of Chinese prepared opium to Hong Kong should be prohibited."
5. As regards the prohibition of opium dens and other places for the consumption of opium and sale of articles used in opium smoking within the foreign Settlements, it was agreed that if effective prohibitive measures were taken by the Chinese authorities outside any such Settlement the Municipal Council would take the necessary steps without waiting for a request from the Chinese authorities.
6. The unrestricted import of morphia and of instruments for its injection should be prohibited as soon as all the Treaty Powers had signified their agreement."
The Board were informed in a note from His Majesty's Minister that the British Government had given their assent to the above arrangement.
As foreign opium is also imported from Annam and the islands of the Southern Seas, the Board also appealed to the French and Dutch Ministers for their assistance in prohibiting the trade, and as opium is also transhipped and prepared at Macao, a similar request was addressed to the Portuguese Minister. Persia being a non-Treaty Power, China can exercise her prerogative by forbidding the import of foreign opium from that country, and the Board have accordingly requested the Revenue Council to direct the Inspector-General of Customs to take the necessary steps.
With regard to the prohibition of the unrestricted import into China of morphia and of instruments for its injection, a Circular note was sent by the Roard to all the foreign Repre- sentatives in Peking in April 1906, and replics have now been received, all, except the Japanese Minister, being in favour of our proposals.
The prolibition of opium is such a worthy undertaking that all countries are naturally in sympathy with it. As India is the place of origin of foreign opium, the Board entered into negotiations with His Majesty's Minister at Peking, and on the matter being referred to the In arranging that, from British Government the latter agreed to do all in its power to assist us. January 1908, the export of foreign opium from India should be annually decreased, the British Government gave a clear proof of their friendly feeling, and of their sincere desire to aid in the prohibition of opium. As, however, it has been laid down that the scheme shall be tried for three years, and shall only be continued on the expiration of that period if it is found that China has effectively decreased the cultivation and consumption of opium, it is absolutely necessary that drastic measures should be taken to decrease the cultivation of opium, aud the opening of opium dens and sale of articles used in opium smoking should be strictly prohibited, in order that the consumption of the drug may be gradually decreased, and that we may preserve our reputation in the eyes of foreign nations.
As January 1908 (the 12th month of the 33rd year of Kuang Hsii) was the date fixed for putting the scheme in operation, the export of foreign opium from India is already being decreased. The short period of three years will soon pass by, and the British Government have made it known that the continuation of the scheme is contingeut on China herself taking effective action. The opportunity must not be lost, and the matter does not admit of delay.
The Ministers of the Board pray that Imperial instructions be given to the Board of the Interior and Board of Revenue to prepare supervisory Regulations to be issued in all the provinces, and that the high provincial authorities be enjoined to do their utmost to put them in operation. Prefects, Sub-Prefects, Department and District Magistrates must not deal with this matter in a balf-hearted and perfunctory manner, or regard it as a question of no importance, if this long-standing disease is to be cured, and the evils which it entails removed. If this can be
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