[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[36550]
C O
[October 10.]
34472
SECTION 1.
REC
Rro 0 NOV 10,
No. I.
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 10.)
(No. 330.) Sir,
Peking, September 22, 1910. WITH reference to my telegram No. 157 of yesterday, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of the note which I addressed to the Wai-wu Pu protesting against the issue of a proclamation at Amoy imposing an additional tax on prepared opium, and requesting that the Viceroy at Foochow be instructed to withdraw the objectionable regulations.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Your Highness,
Mr. Max Müller to Prince Ch'ing.
Peking, September 20, 1910. I HAVE received a telegram from His Majesty's consul at Amoy to the effect that a proclamation has been issued by the local authorities which imposes a tax on boiled opium and farms the collection of the tax to individuals. Mr. Tours adds that the tax is payable on the raw opium in cases of private boiling and that the proclamation refers to the "Foochow Regulations." He bas requested the local authorities to withdraw the proclamation.
I have the honour to point out to your Highness that the action of the Fukien authorities in imposing a new tax upon foreign opium in a treaty port is a breach of the additional article of the Chefoo Convention, and I must therefore enter a strong protest against such a proclamation being allowed to be issued.
At the same time it is my duty to request that your Highness should take imme- diate steps to instruct the Viceroy at Foochiow that the proclamation must be withdrawn and that the trade in foreign opium must not be interfered with.
The issue of these objectionable regulations in Fukien is entirely due to the neglect of the contral Government to order the withdrawal of the similar regulations in the neighbouring province of Kuangtung, in spite of my repeated protests, verbal
and written.
His Majesty's Government, I may add, are not likely to view with equanimity this fresh attempt on the part of provincial authorities to levy an illegal tax when nego- tiations between our two Governments with regard to the whole opium question are proceeding at Peking.
I avail, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
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