I
*
(
".
.......
}
104
much energy is being displayed in eradicating native opium,
and that that which is left is being proportionally taxed,
value for value, as highly as, if not more highly than,
treat foreign opium, the charge of differential opin ment falls
to the ground. I saw therefore no reason to object to the
now levy on that score. Repeated assurances that the rights
of transit pass opium would be respected I could not well
refuse to accupt, until experience had proved them to be
non-valid. Assuming that the Additional Article to the
Chefoo Convention accords to Thind the right to impose
farther non-differential taxation on foreign opium on
arrival at its destination, the time limit within which
it had to be boiled down after the packages were brukun
up, appeared at first to me to be immaterial.
The tax
was to be collected from the boilers, and I was informed
that, in order tofguard against hoarding, the drug ought
to be boiled down as speedily as possible. The contention