36162
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Goverment ]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[40073]
No. 1.
R-23 NOV 09
[November 11
SECTION 3.
112
H
(No. 368.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 1.)
Peking, October 6, 1909. WITH reference to my despatch No. 333 of the 15th ultimo I have the honour to transmit herewith for your information copies of correspondence which has passed between His Majesty's Consul at Nanking, Messrs. Sassoon and Co., and this Legation, regarding the action of the Viceroy at Nanking in enforcing certain opium regulations in such a manner as to interfere with the legitimate trade of British merchants in Shanghae interested in the importation of opium.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 1 in No. I.
Consul Goffe to Sir J. Jordan.
(No. 26.) Sir,
Nanking, September 22, 1900. I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith a letter addressed to you by the leading British merchants in Shanghae interested in the opium trade, which was forwarded to me, under flying seal, by Messrs. Sassoon and Co.
On the 23rd ultimo I had an interview with the Viceroy on the subject of the opium regulations, when I carried out the instructions contained in your despatch of the 13th ultimo. His Excellency said that there would be no interference with the wholesale trade in foreign opium, but that the number of hongs could not be increased. I pointed out that this was granting a monopoly to the hongs already opened, which was contrary to treaty, but he maintained that so long as British merchants were at liberty to sell the specified amount of foreign opium there was no interference with the trade or infringement of treaty. He added that he had no option but to enforce the regulations, and that he could not allow the Ho Chung hong to be re-opened, or even perinit the manager to be released until his case had been dealt with by the proper authorities.
The "Nanking Gazette" of the 9th instant published the text of instructions issued by the Viceroy to the Nanking magistrates directing the release, as an act of clemency, of the manager of the Ho Chung hong, on his giving security that he would not offend again in this way and that he would leave Nanking. The opium seized in the hong was to be dealt with by the magistrates.
A representative of Messrs. Sassoon and Co. called on me on the 13th instant and informed me that the manager was quite ready to give a bond that he, personally, would not offend again and that he would leave Nanking; but that be could not guarantee on behalf of the other proprietors that the hong would not be re-opened.
I have been, and am still, awaiting an opportunity to raise this question again, but during the last few weeks I have had no occasion so see the Viceroy; and as he has been much occupied since taking over charge, and has, moreover, been suffering from the excessive heat, I have not thought it advisable to ask for an interview solely for this purpose.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
I have, &c.
HERBERT GOFFE
Sir,
British Merchants at Shanghae to Sir J. Jordan.
Shanghue, September 20, 1909.
WE, the undersigned British merchants, most respectfully beg to lay before you the following:-
[2494 a-
-3]