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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
71232
S NOV 10:
[October 17.]
SECTION 2.
[37695]
(No. 338.) Sir,
No. 1.
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received October 17.)
Peking, September 30, 1910. WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the Kuangtung opium regulations, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the copy of a note which I have addressed to Prince Ching in consequence of a telegram received on the 27th instant from the officer administrating the Government of Hong Kong.
The case now brought to the notice of the Chinese Government constitutes a further serious infraction of the treaty. A consignment of Indian opium, upon which full duty and li-kin have been paid, and which the native purchaser intended to convey into the interior, has been detained by the Kuang Yün office, and the officials refuse to allow it to be removed from Canton without payment of the new tax.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER,
Enclosure in No. 1.
Your Highness,
Mr. Max Müller to Prince Ch'ing.
Peking, September 28, 1910.
I HAVE the honour to invite your Highness's most serious attention to a further case of illegal seizure of foreign opium conveyed under transit pass, which has occurred at Canton, the actual seat of the Viceroy of the Liang Kuang provinces.
The facts of this case, which have been telegraphically communicated to me by the Governor of Hong Kong, are as follows:--
On the 21st instant the Shun Yi Shiu shop at Canton purchased from Messrs. Sassoon and Co., five chests of Patna and six chests of Malwa opium. Full duty and li-kin was paid on this opium by the purchasers, who intended to convey the opium to the province of Kiangsi for sale. The Kuang Yün office, however, refused to permit the opium to leave Canton without payment of the new tax, and the opium chests are now detained in Canton.
I have the honour to remind your Highness that this is now the seventh case which I have been forced to bring to your Highness's notice, in which the provincial authorities of Kuangtung have claimed, contrary to direct treaty stipulations, this illegal levy on foreign opium. It provides an additional proof of the absolute necessity of withdrawing the new Kuangtung opium regulations if constant friction between the British and Chinese authorities is to be avoided. His Majesty's Government cannot view with indifference the neglect of the Chinese Government to put a stop to these abuses in the province of Kuangtung, and I take this opportunity to remind your Highness that they seriously hamper the satisfactory conclusion of the negotiations now proceeding on the main opium question.
I have the honour, therefore, to request your Highness to issue telegraphic instructions to the Viceroy at Canton to secure the immediate release of the chests of foreign opium now detained at Canton, and to warn his Excellency of the serious responsibility devolving on him through the continued imposition of this illegal levy on foreign opium,
The favour of an early reply is requested.
[2957 r-2]
I avail, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.