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estimates the extent of cultivation as even exceeding that in previous years. He tells me that when Hsi Liang travelled from Yunnan-fu to Hankow through Kueichou in March last, the young poppy plants in the immediate vicinity of the main road were ) covered over with earth for the day.
The acting governor-general, Shen, is in a somewhat difficult position, as he has not the prestige that a substantive governor-general would have, and as, moreover, be has been immediately preceded by an officer so grim and determined in the suppression of opium as Isi Liang, As far as I am able to judge, Shen ping k'un has shown no signs of weakness, and has kept the campaign going against the cultivation of opium.
I have, &c.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
E. C. WILTON.
Proclamation issued by the Central Anti-Opium Bureau at Yunnan-fu, dated April 29, 1909.
(Translation.) In the matter of a proclamation for the general information :
WHEREAS, in connection with the suppression of opium, the limit of time for the holding of stocks was fixed for the end of last year (20th January, 1909), and it was forbidden to transport any of the drug for sale after that date.
And whereas the former governor-general, Hsi, memorialised that the li-kin on opium would cease on and after the first day of this year, and that after that day opium would be seized, sent to Yünnan-fu, and there burnt. Circular instructions to that effect were sent throughout the province.
Now, the seizures of contraband opium at Wei-hsi, Li-chiang, Tengyuch, and elsewhere, have been very large. The li-kin officials and the local authorities everywhere have been notified by telegraph to make stringent and secret search, and not to permit illicit sales. They were instructed that merchants who disobeyed and treated the law lightly by disregarding the date fixed within which opium from their locality might be exported, should have their opium seized and confiscated, and they themselves punished, as they were assuredly to blame.
But in out-of-the-way places the people may not have known of the measures for prohibition and have taken their opium to the large marts for sale, and they are too poor to devise means of transport for removing it. Or it may be that they did not arrive in time to be able to dispose of it. The bureau takes into consideration the facts that they stand to lose their entire capital and have their means of livelihood cut off root and stock.
Would it not be better to open out a way for them?
In regard to this question of opium, the Central Bureau affirms that from now onwards no one, no matter whether gentry, merchant, scholar, or peasant, no matter whether be lives ou the frontiers, in remote places, or in barbarian territory, shall ever be allowed to grow a single plant again or to keep the smallest quantity of a drug which is a curse to all.
Now, very many of you merchants and people have been gradually accumulating small quantities of opium for future sale and profit, and are now liable to have it all destroyed. Surely this is a sad state of affairs, and one to be pitied!
Now, out of compassion for you, the Central Bureau is further publishing this proclamation.
Be it known to all you merchants and people that, in the case of all stocks of opium not yet exported for sale from your locality, it is permitted, for one fortnight only from the date of this proclamation, that you present yourselves, with the ticket number of your house, at the Central Bureau, and report the exact amount in hand. Or, if it is nearer for you, you may report to your local authorities, who will acquaint the bureau by telegraph. The Central Bureau will then pray the governor-general to memorialise the throne that all opium which has not yet passed the li-kin barriers may be sent through at an additional payment of 100 per cent. At the same time, if there be those who disobey the prohibitions against opium and store it secretly, then the village headmen, and indeed any person, may make private inquiries and inform against them. They shall be severely punished and their opium destroyed by fire. There will be no pity shown.
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This proclamation is issued with the approval of the governor-general. one and all throughout the province obey and not disregard the injunctions Curgent proclamation!
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Proclamation issued by the Governor-General Shen, dated Yünnan-fu, May 1999.
(Translation.)
Let it be clearly known to all:
Let
An
WHEREAS the production of opium in Yünnan was very great, and its ill effects much greater than in other provinces, the former governor-general, Hsi, received a mandate from the throne for its suppression, and he memorialised that the limit of time for the suppression should be fixed for the end of last Chinese year (20th January, 1909). Accordingly, last winter, his Excellency sent out a number of deputies to proceed in different directions and carry out thorough investi- gations throughout the province in every place, no matter how precipitous the moun- tains, how remote the valleys, and how out of the way these might be. There was no spot that was not visited and scrutinized, no land where the growing poppy was not uprooted.
You who have cultivated the poppy know its evil effects, and that, clandestinely sown, it has been uprooted.
Now, the provinces have requested that the time-limit for the suppression of opium be curtailed. The throne has commanded that the poppy shall not be sown again in any part of Yünnau.
However, it is to be feared that you people are slow to perceive. You imagine that the destruction of the opium plants and the restrictions against opium last year were for that year alone, and were directed by a Governor-General, who has now gone. You imagine that perhaps you may be able to cultivate it again this year. fore you devise no means whereby to gain your livelihood in another direction. deceive yourselves.
There-
You
The
Be it known that from the day on which this proclamation is issued for your information the prohibition against opium will be more stringent than last year. roads to those places where opium was grown and uprooted are better known to-day. Let there be no mistake, the lands on which opium is found illicitly growing will be forfeited to the Crown, and the offenders, who will be regarded as wilful trans- gressors, will be severely punished according to the laws of the land.
Reflect whether my words are not truly spoken!
I, the Governor-General, have been in Yünnan for two years and know you Yunnanese thoroughly. Poverty-stricken and indeed to be pitied! Formerly you depended upon growing a little opium to make your income. To-day opium is banned and will never be allowed to be cultivated again. You must, therefore, hasten to think out some local means of replacing the profit you once got from opium. You must not indulge in day-dreams that you will plant opium again, and thus become law-breakers. It may be that the beans and wheat crops of your fields give but scanty returns, but there are many other things which might also be cultivated. I, the Governor-General, have very attentively considered the points that it may be difficult for you to procure good seed and employ the best methods of cultivation, and I will use official funds to purchase good seed for you. Let one and all who read this proclamation discuss among yourselves, and let those of you, ripe in age and experience, carefully examine the different soils, and let crops which suit these best be sown If you have good seed it is well. not, and you desire to buy from other provinces or from abroad, you are authorized to petition your local authorities, who will telegraph to the Taotai for the Encourage- ment of Trade at Yünnan-fu. He will send out and buy what you want from the There will be proper quarters and forward it to your local authorities to give to you.
If
no charge at all for instruction as to the best methods of cultivation. Yamên clerks and police will be strictly forbidden to extort money from you on these accounts. Should you raise a fund among yourselves for the establishment of societies for the promotion of agriculture, reclamation of waste land, cattle-raising, horse-breeding, and others of a similar nature, I, the Governor-General, and the Taotai for the Encouragement of Trade will foster these societies with all our endeavours. And if your enterprises flourish, we will encourage you with rewards.
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