[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
1)
[9439]
(No. 6.) Sir,
No. 1.
(March 4.]
186
C
SECTION
10849
RLC?
Nros 10 APR 12.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 4.)
Chengtu, January 10, 1912.
I HAVE the bonour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch which I have to-day addressed to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, reporting on renewed cultivation of the poppy plant in Szechuan province, and the steps taken by the new Republican Government for its suppression.
I have, &c.
Enclosure in No. 1.
W. H. WILKINSON.
Consul-General Wilkinson to Sir J. Jordan.
my
(No. 5.) Sir,
Chengtu, January 10, 1912. IN his letter dated Yachou, the 26th December last (enclosure in immediately preceding despatch), Mr. Openshaw says: Opium is being grown very widely throughout this district." The "Kuo Min Pao" of the 6th January states that fugitives lately arrived at Chengtu from Liangshan Hsien (near Wan Hsien), "saw the poppy plant growing in great abundance all along the route"-the high road from Wan Hsien hither.
There can, indeed, be little doubt that much poppy has been sown this autumn, but it is only fair to add that this has been done contrary to the expressed wishes of the new Government. The same issue of the "Kuo Min Pao," from which I have quoted, contains a metrical exhortation addressed to farmers by the town council of the two home districts of Chengtu :-----
"Since the railway controversy arose this year farmers have constantly suffered and lost. It is said that they are now sowing the poppy, wishing to make up for previous losses. They ought to know that China's restrictions on opium affect diplomatie relations with foreigners. Although Szechuau is now independent, the treaties have still force and effect; if in a twinkling prohibition is not completed, there will be indemnities doing grievous harm."
Farmers are accordingly admonished to refrain from sowing the poppy. If they have sown it they are called on to hoe it up, and to substitute for it spring wheat.
In the same spirit the Chengtu Government has issued two proclamations, published together in the "Kung Pao" of the 3rd January. One, in metre, is directed against opium dens, which have been reopened in many quarters; the other, in more sober prose, against the renewed cultivation of the poppy. Premising that prohibition of opium smoking is essential to national improvement, and eradication of the poppy would check the bane at its source, the latter proclamation (or rather, circular) orders the immediate and complete destruction of all poppy plants throughout the province, and threatens with severe punishment anyone who may hesitate to obey.
How far the Chengtu Government, whose authority has not yet been acknowledged in Eastern and Southern Szechuan and the Chieu-chang Valley, will be able to enforce this mandate it is impossible as yet to say. The British missionaries have temporarily withdrawn from nearly all their stations, so that I shall not be able, as in the past two years, to enlist their aid. I shall not, however, fail to report to you anything that I can learn from other sources.
I have, &c.
W. H. WILKINSON,
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