#1
477
302055-00 m Conf Mob
stated that the Regulations in question are contrary to
Treaty Foreign Office Letter of 16th. August, 1910), His
Majesty's Minister at Peking has so informed the Chinese
Government. He has further under Foreign Office instruct-
-ions protested against their continued enforcement (with
consequential seizures, Sc.) while the whole Opium question
is under discussion. The Chinese Government at Peking kes
on its part tardily admitted that they are contrary to
Treaty and has instructed the Viceroy to cancel them. The
orders of the Wai-wu-pu to the Viceroy are:- "The so-
-called Prepared Opium Tax is in reality another tax on Raw
Opium therefore all Opium seized must be released, no fines
must be imposed" (see enclosure to Despatch of 13th. Sep-
-tember, 1910. The authenticity of the telegram was admit-
-ted by ai-wu-pu: Maxfuller, 15th. October, 1910.) The
obeyed there
Viceroy has not issued such orders, and Mr. MaxHuller in
A
his Despatch of October 13th. to Sir Edward Grey states
that Grand Councillor Na Tung "made the usual excuse that
the Board could not instruct but only advise a Viceroy".
This in effect means that the representative of the
Chinese Government accredited to deal with the British
Government admits that China is unable to enforce in the
Provinces of the Bapire her Treaty obligations, an admis-
-sion