[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 579
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OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[19451]
13008
[May 22.]
REC?
&
SECTION 1.
REGE 16 JUN 11
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 22.)
(No. 189.) Sir,
Peking, April 29, 1911. WITH reference to my despatch No. 177 of the 25th instant relative to the thirteen chests of Indian opium seized in the district of Wing Ting, in the province of Fukien, I have the honour to enclose the translation of a note which I have received from the Wai-wu Pu, explaining that a chest was detained and opened on suspicion of being snuggled, but was subsequently returned to the owner.
The inference to be drawn from the note is that there is now no opium detained in the district in question. His Majesty's consul at Amoy, to whom a copy of the Wai-wu Pu's note is being sent, will doubtless report how far this inference is correct.
1 have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Sir,
Prince Ching to Sir J. Jordan.
Peking, April 27, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 18th instant respecting the detention of thirteen chests of Indian opium in the district of Wing Ting, in the prefecture of Ting Chou in Fukien, and stating. [Note summarised]. My board accordingly telegraphed to the Governor-General of Fukien and Chekiang, and have now received the following reply:
"Formerly there were no opium dealers in Wing Ting, but last year in the spring the Cantonese shop 'Nan Mei' moved over to Wing Ting and opened business. The Opium Abolition Society therefore stopped the opium, and at the same time, fearing that smuggling was going on, opened a chest to examine it. Subsequently, on discovery that the opinn bore a stamp, the goods were returned to the owner."
I have the honour to address the above reply for your Excellency's information.
I avail, &c.
Prince CHING,
[2011 y-1]