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191
your consideration in the crisis which the subject
now presents? I do this the more readily, because
at a recent interview at Lambeth Palace, not only did
the Aronbishop of Canterbury and Bishop Brent assure
us of the very earnest desire of our leading Statesmen
to bring about as speedy an anding of this acknowledged
wrong as shall be compatible with justice to all, but
Bishop Brent further advised us that one valuable form
of assistance, which workers in the Anti-opium Cause
can render at this moment, will be to put forward for
consideration suggestions for an ending at once reason-
able, practicable, and to our Country's honour.
I am fully aware of the complex nature of the
problem, and if I may refer you to my book "Black Opium",
you will find that I have endeavoured therein to state
the whole case with perfect candour. (see p.186,&c.).
Some years' residence in India moreover have given me
a deep sympathy with the Indian cultivator; and admiration
for the 1.6.5., learnt by personal contact, has enabled
me to appreciate the Anglo-Indian official standpoint.
In the light thus obtained upon the problem, and with
account taken of all the difficulties, I venture to
believe that a solution, fully meeting the moral require-
ments of the case, will also be found to be compatible
with justice to all the interests concerned.
I am quite aware that at first sight these proposal s
will seem "heroic"; yet the more closely they are ex- amined, the more worthy of consideration, I believe,