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restraint is to be imposed. The extent of this limitation can hardly
be defined, as it seemstto us, beyond saying that the suppression or restraint is to be reasonably gradual and that its degree must bear some proportion to the stock in Hong-Kong, Shanghai and in India for shipment
to China.
The Proclamation recently issued by the Frovincial Government
What use at Canton will effectually prevent the consumption of opium.
therefore is it to a merchant to be allowed to import opiwa into China when the Chinese Government promulgates laws which effectually pre vent the local merchants from trading in the product and which totally prohibits its consumption. In effect the English Government have enter edinto an agreement with China which in a roundabout way the Chinese Government evades. The opium merchants upon the Agreement being enter- ed into were entitled to rely upon its being carried out and by the non-
The Indian Govern carrying out thereof they are suffering great loss.
ment insist upon monthly sales and in order to protect their interests the Opium merchants are bound to purchase from the Indian Government in
order to uphold the market.
Should your Excellency in view of the foregoing be still of opinion that you cannot protest against the Froclamations of the Chinese Government and take action in regard to our present complaints we would beg that you would lay our cause of complaint before the Indian Govern-
Sales ment with a view to the monthly sales by such Government being discon- tinued until the present stock of opium in China is exhaustes.
We also humbly beg Your Excellency to lay the facts and our views upon the subject before the Foreign Office of His Majesty's Govern
ment.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Iga.
Your obedient servants.
David
Ed Sassoon