[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[1371]
C
0 3443
(January 13.]
SECTION 2.
of 3 TEB P
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 13, 1911.)
(No. 464.) Sir,
Peking, December 24, 1910. IN my despatch No. 435 of the 1st December, I gave some account of the agitation which has sprung up in China in favour of the immediate cessation of the importation of foreign opium, and which accounts for the change of attitude on the part of the Chinese Government towards the negotiations which have been proceeding for the last five months between Mr. Max Möller and the Wai-wu Pu for the renewal of the agreement of 1907. Since the date of my despatch the movement has shown no sigus of abating, but it appears still to be confined to the north, and so far there is no evidence that it has gained any general support in the southern provinces of the Empire. The weakness of the present Chinese Government renders them peculiarly sensitive to the voice of public opinion, which, however well justified it may be in this case on moral grounds, is unquestionably guilty of exaggeration and even perversion of facts, as exemplified in the articles published almost daily in the native and foreign press of Peking.
Mr. Thwing, an American born and bred in China, whose activity in this matter has already been brought to your notice, has recently published two letters addressed by him to the Regent and to the Wai-wu Pu respectively, translations of which I have the honour to enclose.* These letters are a fair illustration of the prevailing views which look to one side of the question only and totally ignore the injustice which would be inflicted on those whose occupation and even livelihood depend on the cultivation of the drug if the measures advocated were adopted without warning. Incredible almost as it may seem, there is only too much ground for believing that persons such as Mr. Thwing find ready listeners among the responsible Chinese officials, and even a memorial from the "fallen women "of Peking is made the most of in the endeavour to show that the hatred of the drug permeates every class of society. In a letter, a summarised translation of which I also enclose,* the National Anti-Opium Society urges the Wai-wu Pu to negotiate for the total prohibition of the import of Indian opium as from the middle of next year; but the society is, to say the least, rash in assuming that the cultivation of the native drug will have entirely ceased in so short a space of time. Sir A. Hosie's reports will have shown that the statements of Chinese officials in this matter have not always been reliable, and a striking instance of such prevarication was disclosed by a native paper of Peking as recently as the 19th instant. The Governor of Chekiang had reported to the Throne that total suppression of the cultivation of the poppy would shortly be effected in that province. The Board of Revenue apparently had reason to suspect the truth of the governor's report, and sent an official on a tour of inspection. The latter reported that there had been a reduction of some 40 per cent. in the prefectures of Hangchow, Chiahsing, and Huchow, 20 to 25 per cent. in those of Chinhua, Chuchou, and Yenchou, but that, notwith- standing this average reduction, in one district in the latter prefecture not only had there been no reduction, but over 300,000 mou (45,455 acres) more than last year were under cultivation. The paper makes the apposite comment that "the reports of provincial authorities to the Throne cannot be believed.”
I have little doubt that this is not an isolated case, and although China has never been required by His Majesty's Government to produce proof that the cultivation of the plant has been diminished in the proportions laid down, instances such as this must, to a certain extent, lessen the value of evidence based, as in the accompanying letter from Mr. Mallesou,* honorary treasurer of the Church Anti-Opium Committee, largely on the reports of missionaries.
The Chinese National Anti-Opium Society have also addressed the accompanying letter to me,* asking me to lend my assistance in their efforts to put an end to the importation of the drug from India.
In conclusion, I have the honour to enclose the copy of a petition,* printed in the
* Not printed.
[1857 n-2]
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