our trade.
2
The regulation under which the action complained of has been carried out is No. 1 of the Hangchow regulations of January last (of which I had the honour to transmit a translation in my despatch No. 1), which prohibits the sale of opium by shops dealing in other wares. There having been no shops outside Ningpo dealing exclusively in opium, such a prohibition has the effect of at once stopping all the retail trade in foreign opium outside Ningpo. It appears to me that so summary a proceeding as this is not contemplated or justified by any understanding as yet existing between His Majesty's Government and China and must, as Messrs. Sassoon assert, be greatly detrimental to I have, however, found both letters and personal interviews quite useless to obtain the least concession upon the point from the taotai, and have therefore no alternative but to refer the matter to you. I am not laying the question first before the governor at Hangchow, firstly, because the regulations concerned are those which I have already transmitted in my despatch No. 1; secondly, because I thought it probable, in view of your despatch No. 4, that you would prefer to have the matter placed directly and thirdly, because I was quite convinced, from my personal knowledge your hands; of the governor and of Taotai Wang of the Hangchow Foreign Bureau, and from what I have learned of the Hangchow Opium Bureau, that such a proceeding would have involved a considerable, and absolutely fruitless, consumption of time.
in
In replying to Messrs. Sassoon, I have informed them that I have been unable to arrive at any satisfactory settlement with the local authorities, who insist that they are merely carrying out regulations imposed by their superiors, and that I am therefore referring the matter to you.
I have the honour to transmit copies of my correspondence with the local officials and also of Messrs. Sassoon's letters, which will be found to comprise a full statement of the whole matter.
I have, &c.
Sir,
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Messrs. E. Sassoon and Co. to Acting Consul Barr.
L. R. BARR,
Shanghai, April 18, 1910. WE beg to lay before you the following, viz.: It is reported that the magistrate of King Yuen of your place has sent instructions to the officials in the outlying districts to close up all the opium shops (although they have been doing business for a very long time past) and direct consumers to go to Ningpo to buy what they require.
[Reference occurs here to another matter, in a different district, which has been dealt with separately.--L. R. B.]
These undue restrictions are against the treaty and are greatly injurious to the legitimate trade.
We shall therefore thank you to look into the matter and make representations to the native authorities and urge them to put a stop to all illegal actions interfering with legitimate business,
The bearer, Mr. Chin-Wa, will give any further information which you may require on the subject.
We are, &c.
E. D. SASSOON AND Co.
3
same the Ningpo opium hongs refuse to take delivery of their purchases of Indian opium, as they are unable to dispose of same as heretofore. Such actions on the part of the officials of the Opium Bureau are in direct contravention to the existing treaty regulations. The native officials may impose restrictions on the consumers of the drug, but have no right to interfere with legitimate trade by refusing to grant permit to honest traders of long standing to deal in Indian opium on which duty and li-kin have been duly paid. We have very heavy interest at stake, and cannot allow any illegal interference with the trade. The native dealers have heavy purchases to take delivery of, and we hold large stocks here, on the way, and in India, and if the native dealers are not allowed to carry the opium freely into the interior after having paid on it duty and li-kin, we cannot dispose of our large holdings. We beg, therefore, to request you to impress upon the native authorities the necessity of allowing the native traders in opium to carry on their trade without any undue let or hindrance.
We are, &c.
DAVID SASSOON AND Co. (Limited). E. D. SASSOON AND Co.
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Barr to Sang Taotai.
(Précis translation.)
April 28, 1910. MESSRS. SASSOON complain that the Ningpo Opium Prohibition Bureau, in contravention of the regulations, are refusing to grant licences to any opium shops but those in Ningpo city, with the result that all provincial shops and hongs are closing, to the great detriment of Messrs. Sassoon's trade. The regulations do not provide for the suppression within ten years of the importation of foreign opium, and proper distinction should be made between native and foreign opium.
The action of the bureau, if correctly reported, is one highly prejudicial to British trade, and the consul requests that the bureau be ordered to grant licences in accordance with the regulations to shops both inside and outside Ningpo, observing a proper dis- tinction between native and foreign opium, whereby detriment to Messrs. Sassoon's interests may be avoided.
The agent sent down by Messrs. Sassoon is a man of great experience in the opium trade; on a former occasion, at Nan Ch'ang, he arranged a very satisfactory modus vivendi with the Opium Prohibition Bureau, and if the taotai will order the bureau to arrange an interview, doubtless similarly satisfactory results may be arrived at on the present occasion.
Enclosure 5 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Barr to Sang Taotai.
(Précis translation.)
May 11, 1910. REFERS to former letter, to which no reply has been received as yet, beyond a mere formal acknowledgment. Begs that, as Messrs. Sassoon's agent is unable to wait here much longer, taotai will send someone as soon as possible to accompany the agent to the Opium Prohibition Bureau in order that an amicable settlement of the matter may be attempted.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. and E. D. Sassoon and Co. to Acting Consul Barr.
Sir,
Shanghai, May 27, 1910. WE addressed you last on the 18th ultimo, and have since received further complaints from Ningpo to the effect that all the nine opium hongs who have been carrying their business there for many years past are unable to do so any longer, owing to the retailers in the interior not being able to buy from them, as they are unable to obtain the usual renewal of their licences by the Opium Bureau. In consequence of
Enclosure 6 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Barr to Sang Taotai.
(Précis translation.)
May 27, 1910. THE consul has still received no answer to his previous letters. The course of action suggested by him is a very obvious proof of his desire that an amicable settlement of the matter may be arrived at prejudicial neither to China's plans for opium suppression nor to British trade; these intentions, however, the persistent ignoring of the matter by the local opium bureau, and their total disregard of all treaty obligations, can but render abortive,
494