[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[23051]
No. 1.
371
CO Dupe 271- 165 RESECTION 2. Rest 15 JUL 10
Consul-General O'Brien-Butler to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received June 27.)
(No. 8. Confidential.) Sir,
Yunnan-fu, May 20, 1910. I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of an opium report for the four months ended the 30th April, 1910, which I am sending to His Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Peking.
I have, &c.
P. E. O'BRIEN-BUTLER,
Enclosure in No. 1.
(No. 17. Sir,
Consul-General O'Brien-Butler to Mr. Max Müller.
Confidential.)
Yunnan-fu, May 20, 1910. IN my opium report for December quarter, despatch No. 9 of the 8th February, I mentioned that the magistrate of P'ing-i had been deprived of his office and his button on account of his habitual disregard of the anti-opium regulations, and his connivance at the smuggling of opium across the border from Kweichow. From this town of P'ingi the Rev. H. A. C. Allen writes under date of the 1st April
"It goes without saying that no opium is planted within 10 or 20 li of the city.* But it is well known that in the south of this magistracy quite a lot is grown. In the district of Huang-ni-ho, four days south of this, the ground is exceptionally good for growing opium, and possibly the district is warmer than here. Some three months ago our magistratet made a tour of seventy days in his district, but chiefly in the aforementioned direction. I was told confidentially that a few days before he returned he sent on ahead four horse-loads of silver, and the head clerk who was with him one horse-load. This, spelt in dollars, was given as 7,000 dollars and 1,000 dollars respectively. That this was altogether an exaggeration is more than probable; at the same time, I dare say his purse was heavier on returning than on his starting. He left a few days since in another direction. I was surprised to hear from a man whom I know, and at whose house I recently stayed 35 li from here, that there is some opium planted a couple of li from his place... This being a district bordering on Kweichow with good soil, it naturally affords a good opportunity for illicit growth. Opium smoking does not seem to have decreased much. It is everywhere in evidence, though the amount consumed is much less necessarily since the price is so high. An immense number of people swallow it who used to smoke it. It is a pity the Viceroy smokes, and that it is common knowledge on the street.'
On the 2nd March the Rev. S. Pollard, who had just arrived from a journey in the northern part of Yunnan, informed me that he had come across opium growing in some parts of T'ung-ch'uan prefecture. Runners had been sent to enquire into the matter, but they were well bribed to be silent, and the poppy was in flower when Mr. Pollard and some companion missionaries passed. Mr. Pollard added that in no other place did he see any trace of the poppy;
Several travellers have informed me that they have seen opium growing in the portion of Yunnan north of the Yang-tsze.
From Kweichow province I have received two letters. The Rev. C. Freeman
* 3 li equal about 1 mile.
†The successor of the official who was deprived of his office and his button.
[2793 dd-2]