2
of extending it to six months. It is doubtful if this will be regarded as a satisfactory solution; the British opium merchants state that nothing but a complete return to the status quo ante the new regulations will meet the case.
2. The Viceroy of Canton states he understands that the opium prohibition bureau has issued a proclamation forbidding the raw opium dealers from receiving payment of the tax at the time of the sale of the drug.
3. It is understood that, in consequence of our protests that the additional tax is levied at the time of sale, and therefore constitutes, in effect, a tax on raw opium, the opium prohibition bureau, assisted by Liang Chao-tang, a leading opium merchant, will hold a secret investigation. I have, however, no confirmation that these steps have been actually taken.
very
4. The Viceroy has reprimanded the authorities at Swatow for the action taken little there, but, as has been pointed out to the Wai-wu Pu, the reprimand is of practical use so long as the opium is retained.
I do not propose to trouble you with the voluminous correspondence on this subject, which continues to engage the attention of the legation. My object is to endeavour to show that British interests have not been lost sight of, but no amount of argument has sufficed hitherto to convince the Chinese Government that the enforcement of the regulations constitutes in any way a breach of treaty, and so impervious are they to all my remonstrances that I suspect them not of guiding but of being guided by the Viceroy of Canton. The latter's attitude may be summed up briefly in the terms of a telegram which I received yesterday from Mr. Jamieson, who states that his Excellency is firmly resolved to suppress smoking and ignores indirectly treaty obligations. Nothing short of an Imperial edict will make him hold his hand, and he explains away the recent cases of reported seizures on the ground that they were directed not against the drug, but against the holders thereof, who were not furnished with the requisite permit to deal in opium. Mr. Jamieson adds, however, that strict instructions are being issued that transit passes in authorised hands are to be respected.
I have, &c.
(In the absence of His Majesty's chargé d'affaires), ERNEST SCOTT.
6)
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[29029]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to Sir C. Clementi Smith.
C
[August 27.]
SECTION 2.3 00 101
Foreign Office, August 27, 1910.
Sir,
I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter from the India Office," enclosing a memorandunt by Mr. J. B. Bruuyate, C.I.E., a member of the Shanghae Opium Commission, on a report by Dr. Hamilton Wright, one of the American delegates, on the work of the commission.
Mr. Brunyate controverts many of the statements made by Dr. Wright, a copy of whose report is annexed,† and, in view of the importance of the questions involved, Sir E. Grey is of opinion that the memorandum should be submitted to you. Ho would feel extremely obliged if he could be furnished with your views on it in due course.
I am, &c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
* India Office, August 9, 1910. [2860 dd—2]
† Dr. Wright's memorandum.
139