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effected the people of China will indeed have a chance of improvement, and we shall have shown ourselves worthy of the assistance given us by foreign Powers.
The Ministers of the Board of Foreign Affairs reverently submit this statement of the arrangements concluded with foreign Powers for the prohibition of opium to your Majesties, and ask for instructions.
On the 22nd March an Imperial Decree was issued.
Imperial Decree issued on March 24, 1908, in response to Memorials submitted by the Wai-wu Pu respecting the Arrangements concluded with Foreign Powers for the Abolition of Opium, and the means to be taken to raise Revenue to replace the Opium Tax.
(Translation.)
The increase in the use of opium has brought with it evil results of the most terrible nature. Those afflicted with the craving squander their property, shorten their lives, become dishonest and idle, and ruin their official careers. In provinces innumerable cases of suicide by taking opium occur every year; it is the cause of many crimes and lawsuits and tends to frustrate the benevolent designs of Providence. Not only are those results deplorable in themselves, but if our people daily grow more enfeebled in mind and body through the use of opium, what hope is there of China regaining her former strength?
Of late many of our people, of every rank in life, recognizing the magnitude of the evil, have vied with each other in forming Societies to discourage the use of opium, and even those long addicted to the habit have come to realize with sorrow the extent of the misfortunes which they have brought upon themselves. Many foreign philanthropists, also, have promoted public meetings with a view to securing the prohibition of the cultivation and sale of opium and have distributed remedies for the opium habit. Their action has been entirely prompted by a keen desire that the use of opium should be abolished in China, and how much greater should be the efforts of our own people, who are themselves suffering from its ravages, to eradicate the evil!
We have already directed by Imperial Decree that Regulations should be issued under which the use of opium, both foreign and native, should be totally suppressed within a period of ten years. The British Government have now agreed to effect an annual reduction in the amount of opium exported to China, and other friendly Powers are willing to assist. This enlightened policy on their part has deeply impressed us. Under the agreement with the British Government the reduction in the export is to be continued for three years, and if it is found on the expiration of this period that China has effectively decreased the cultivation and consumption of opium the policy of reducing the export will still be carried on. To allow these three years to slip by without taking measures for the abolition of the drug would be a poor return for the benevolent policy of a friendly Power, and a deep disappointment to philanthropists of all nations. Should this opportunity be lost for ever and the disease allowed to become incurable, it is impossible that China should ever be considered a great country, and we, with all the officers of our Government, could not but feel the deepest shame, recognizing that the responsibility therefor rested with us.
We therefore direct the Boards of the Interior and of Finance to lose no time in preparing supervisory Regulations and taking strict measures to insure their enforcement after our sanction has been received. We also direct the high provincial authorities to insure the effective performance by their subordinates of the measures submitted to us by the Government Council, and to prepare Memorials setting forth the measures which they propose to take in their respective jurisdictions to decrease the cultivation and consumption of opium. Let a general report of the reduction effected be made at the end of each year, and let the funds needed to take the place of the opium tax be raised by the Board of Finance. As this matter affects the strength of this country and the lives of the people, we enjoin upon all officials, both in the capital and the provinces, to perform their duties zealously. No matter how great the difficulties may be, they must strive to effect the total abolition of opium within the fixed period, and any procrastination on their part will meet with severe punishment.
Let the rest be as proposed.
APPENDIX (B).
Appointment of Imperial Commissioners for the Enforcement of the Prohibition of Opium.
(Translation.)
(Imperial Decree issued on April 7, 1908.)
IN view of the baneful effects produced by opium, officials of all ranks in the capital and the provinces should be eager to render respectful obedience to the Decrees which we have repeatedly issued prohibiting its use. We are informed, however, that there are still many officials addicted to the habit, some claiming that they have given up opium when they have not in reality entirely abandoned its use; others who have become confirmed opium smokers are cunning enough to conceal the fact in public, and there are even some who continue to indulge in it openly.
Unless special officers of high rank be appointed to take effective measures to enforce the prohibition, it is to be feared that there is small hope of our orders for the abolition of opium being carried into effect within the time fixed, and we accordingly appoint Prince Kung, the Assistant Grand Secretary Lu Chuan-lin, and the associate Directors of the Senate Ching-hsing and Ting Chen-to to be Imperial Commissioners for the enforcement of the prohibition of opium. Let the Commissioners engage skilful physicians, Chinese and foreign, and forthwith establish a special investigation office for the eradication of the opium habit. Any official in a public office in the capital known to be addicted to opium smoking should, in accordance with the Regulations, be reported by the President and Vice-President of the Board concerned for punishment, and any official about whom there are grounds for suspicion shall be sent to the above office for a thorough investigation to be made.
A period of three months is allowed for the preparation of suitable Regulations and the construction of an office, after which a Memorial shall be submitted and work commenced. Should it come to the knowledge of the Commissioners that any official in a public office has not entirely abandoned the use of opium, they shall apply to the office concerned to have him sent for examination, or in the case of the President or Vice-President of a Board or other high official the Commissioners shall present a Memorial asking that he may be required to undergo an inquiry into his case. The Commissioners may also apply by Memorial for the examination of any high provincial official above the rank of Taotai against whom they have obtained reliable information. Should it be proved on examination that an official has not been addicted to opium smoking, or has really abandoned the habit altogether, the office shall furnish him with a certificate to that effect, and he shall be allowed to continue to hold his official position; but should it be proved on investigation that he is addicted to the habit he shall be dismissed from his office.
As regards the subordinate officials in the various public offices in the capital and provinces, their superior officers are required to take stringent measures for the strict enforcement of the prohibition. If, therefore, it be discovered by the Commissioners, and be proved on investigation, that an official is addicted to opium, his superior officers shall also be reported to the Board for punishment in proportion to the degree of weakness and remissness displayed by them.
The Commissioners for the enforcement of the prohibition of opium have all been specially selected for the post. They must set aside all personal feelings, and, performing their duty zealously and fearlessly, must not shun the high responsibility placed upon them or execute it perfunctorily. Should the prohibition of opium still fail to show satisfactory results in the future, the Commissioners shall be held to account.
Let the Comptroller-General of Opium Taxation, K'o Fong Shih, provide 30,000 taels out of the revenue from the consolidated tax on native opium for the expenses connected with establishing the office above referred to, and 60,000 taels for the annual expenditure, in order to assist this important work.
APPENDIX (C).
Extract from the “Official Gazette" of May 30, 1908.
PROHIBITION OF OPIUM.
Joint Memorial submitted, in obedience to an Imperial Decree, by the Board of the Interior and Board of Finance proposing certain Supervisory Regulations, and suggesting methods for enforcing compliance therewith.
(Translation.)
ON the 22nd March the following Imperial Decree was received by the Grand Secretariat:----
[Quoted at length.]
The prohibition of opium, with a view to the removal of this long-standing evil and the reclamation of those enfeebled by its use, is a measure of the first importance to the strength of the country. Several urgent Decrees have already been issued fixing a limit of time within which the abolition of opium must gradually be effected, and orders of the most comprehensive description have repeatedly been given prohibiting its use. This further Decree directing the Boards of the Interior and of Finance to prepare supervisory Regulations and to devise means of enforcing compliance therewith is a mark of your Majesties' anxiety for the people's welfare and earnest desire to secure the effectiveness of this measure.
After discussion and careful deliberation on this matter, the Boards have come to the conclusion that the success of the prohibition of opium depends upon the degree of thoroughness with which supervision is exercised, and that the obedience accorded to the prohibition depends...
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