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they are in the fullest degree entitled to the protection
afforded by those Treaties, and that, if the British
Government is for any reason, unwilling to insist upon the
strict observance of these Treaties by the Chinese Authori-
-ties, an explicit statement to that effect should be
communicated to those concerned in the Opium Trade, in
order that they may clearly understand that in purchasing
Opium from the British Government they do so at their own
risk.
5.
I venture also to draw Your Lord-
Clementi's
-ship's special attention to Appendix H in Mr.
Memorandum and in particular to rule No. 15 in the draft
regulations for extending the licence tax on prepared
opium, which contemplates the entire suppression of
opium smoking within 30 months and completely ignores the
terms of the ten years' agreement of December, 1907. I
trust that steps may be taken to prevent these draft
regulation from being brought into operation.
6.
In conclusion I have the honour to
urge upon Your Lordship that, in view of the persistent
attempts made by the Canton Government for many years past
to harrass the legitimate trade of Foreign Merchants in
Opium, it is necessary that a pledge should be required
from