2
6. All the establishments used for breaking smokers of the habit are to be disbanded 7. Final measures consequent upon the extirpation of the habit are to be taken. 8. The central bureau is to make general investigation into the completeness of the steps taken, and to report to the Viceroy
These regulations leave nothing to be desired in the way of thoroughness. For instance, the task of discovering and recording the smokers is laid first upon the village elders, who are checked by the village police, who are checked by the local committees, who are checked by the local magistrates. All these are held responsible for the accuracy of the lists, which may be further overhauled by the central bureau. Paoting-fu and Tien-tsin are to be under special conditions under their foreign system of police. Peking is not mentioned.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL
[May 1.]
1557
SECTION 2.
[16171]
No. 1. MY |
age,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 1.)
(No. 146.) Sir,
No exceptions are to be allowed in the treatment of smokers on the ground of sex, or sickness.
All private stores of opium are to be surrendered in the 7th period, under heavy penalties. Informers are to be rewarded.
With regard to the second set of regulations, all dealers buying opium for Chihli in other provinces, those buying for other provinces in Chihli, and those passing through Chibli with opium bought in other provinces for other provinces, must be provided with proper permits. These permits are issued in Chibli, In the case of the dealers from other provinces, such permits are only given on production of proper authority from said provinces.
In the light of previous measures taken in Chihli, it may be assumed that the central bureau is thoroughly in earnest, and will do its best to carry these regulations into effective practice.
I have, &c.
H. E. FULFORD,
Peking, April 7, 1911. WITH reference to my despatch No. 56 of the 7th February relative to the consignments of Indian opiam seized at Santong and Samshui on the 2nd August last year, I have the honour to enclose the copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Canton on the subject. It will be seen that the further enquiries made by Mr. Jamieson have elicited from the Acting Governor-General the information that the Santong opium has been sold and the proceeds have been sent to the owner.
As regards the Samshui case, there would appear, according to the Chinese version of the incident, to have been a breach of the regulations and a deliberate attempt to smuggle. The disappearance of the owners points to the assumption that they knew themselves to be in the wrong, and makes it difficult for me to take any further steps in the matter.
I have forwarded copies of Mr. Jamieson's despatch and enclosures to Sir F. Lugard with an expression of the above views.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Memorial by Governor of Kueichow respecting Measures taken for Suppression of Opium.
THE memorialist has received several edicts from the Throne, ordering him to make every effort to suppress opium in the province. Now Kueichow has always been it considered a centre of cultivation for the drug, and so it will be harder to suppress there than in the other provinces. Last year memorialist presented a petition that the collection of the li-kin tax might be suspended, in order to impress on the people the fact that if the Government was prepared to sacrifice this large sum, they (the people) had no excuse for inaction.
Now on investigation it was found that in every district there was still a large amount of opium in store, and it was absolutely necessary to lay down a definite period for its export. But as soon as li-kin collection was stopped the price of opium at once rose, and if the merchants were allowed to export it at will, no taxes would be collected on it, and the merchants would make enormous profits. So orders were given that for a definite period the tax would be restored at twice the previous rate in order to strengthen the provincial exchequer. This period expired at the end of the 11th moon, and now all traffic in opium is at an end, neither export nor import being permitted In all more than thirty officers have been sent throughout every jurisdiction and have taken the most stringent measures. Where opium cultivation had already been suppressed, the farmers were ordered to sow other crops; where cultivation still
ordered to continued, it was
The industrial Taotai, Wang Yu-lin too was instructed to go about and investigate, giving punishment or reward as found Becessary. In district the majority of the inhabitants were found amenable, but there are many Miaotzu districts, buried away in the mountains and difficult of access, whose inhabitants will not listen to exhortation, and where an exhaustive search for opium is impossible. But as the thing must be done, we have given strict injunctious to all the officials, substantive and otherwise, to exert themselves to the utmost. The districts along the line between Kueichow and Yunnan are being administered jointly by officials of both provinces, in order to prevent the local officials from throwing off their responsibility and the people from having grounds for excuse.
every
cease.
All smokers have been given tickets to facilitate inspection. Opium dealers have been instructed to take up soine other trade as soon as their present stocks are sold out, while purchasers have to reduce their daily consumption by gradual stages until total extinction.
Memorial presented by Li Ching-hsi, Viceroy of Yun-Kuei.
(No. 9.)
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul-General Jamieson to Sir J. Jordan.
Sir,
Canton, March 23, 1911. WITH reference to your despatch No. 4 of the 31st January last, I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a communication I have received from the Acting Governor-General relative to the seizure of opium at Sautong, and also copy of a note from the Opium Prohibition Bureau relative to the seizure of opium at Samshui.
I have, &c.
J. W. JAMIESON.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Acting Governor-General Chang to Consul-General Jamieson.
Isian Tung, 2nd year, 2nd moon, 22nd day (March 22, 1911).
(Translation.) Sir,
I HAD the honour to acknowledge your despatch of the 16th day of the 1st moon relative to the seizure at Hsin Tang (Santong) of two chests of foreign opium, in which you referred to my reply stating that the opium would be sent to a prepared- opium shop possessing a trading licence at Shih Lung for sale on behalf of the owner, and requested that, if the opium had already been disposed of, the proceeds should be refunded to the owner. I subsequently had the honour to inform you that I had called on the head office of the Opium Prohibition Bureau to investigate the matter and report to me. I am now in receipt of a reply from the Opium Prohibition Bureau stating that, according to a report of an officer of the Opium Investigation Depart- ment. deputed, at their instance, to investigate the case, the opium has already been sold in toto and the proceeds of the sale refunded to the owner in full, and requesting you be informed of this. I accordingly now have the honour to inform you to the above purport.
that
I avail, &c.
(Seal of Acting Governor-General.)
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