557
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
0.0.
markets of this year's raw opium. As to Western Szechuan, the cultivation of the poppy has been resumed in the prefectures of Ya-Chou Fu and Hing-Yuan Fu, whence it has spread to the hill tribes bordering on Yünnan. As to Eastern Szechuan, from Wan Hsien and all along the river to Wu Shan, the prohibition proclamations have been entirely disregarded, and in Fu-chou, Feng-tu, and Tien-chiang as many poppies have been planted as before the issue of the Imperial edicts; indeed a British official, Mr. Teichman, travelling recently from Chengtu to Ichang, found between Peng-tu and Chung-chou that the poppy was the predominating crop on all sides. Liang Shan, T'ung Chuan, Shih Chu-t'ing, and Wan Hsien have also planted poppies, but in rauch smaller quantities than before the publication of the edicts; K'ai Hsien and the districts to the north have also planted a good deal, which has been ruined by weather.
In Shausi, British missionaries returned to their stations report that opium is now being largely cultivated in the central and southern parts of that province.
His Majesty's Minister has dealt only with Szechuan and Shansi, but he is continually receiving reports of the recrudescence of opium cultivation in other provinces. For example: Kansu, where Colonel Pereira, lately military attaché to this legation, has seen the poppy planted round Lanchow Fu and Liang-chou; Shensi, where it is reported to be widely cultivated; Yunnan, in the east and west of which province as much opium is grown as before the Imperial edicts; Hunan, where poppy seems to be grown everywhere; Fukien, where poppy fields are to be seen in all directions near Amoy and in other districts; Chekiang, where poppy has been replanted in at least two prefectures, and Kueichou, where, according to a telegram just received from His Majesty's consul at Chungking, the opium prohibitions have been cancelled.
His Majesty's Minister admits the difficulties imposed on the Chinese Government in their policy of suppressing the cultivation of the poppy by the present unsettled conditions in the interior; but the very fact that circumstances render them unable to fulfil their obligations in that particular makes it all the more incumbent on them to prevent breaches of the agreement in other particulars being deliberately committed.
Peking, May 31, 1912.
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[27289]
No. 1.
Sir Edward Grey to Sir J. Jordan.
211
[June 27. Ent 2 AUG 12
SECTION 1.
(No. 103.) (Telegraphic.) R.
Foreign Office, June 27, 1912. PROCLAMATION said to have been issued in Kiangsi province to establish monopoly of sales of opium from 1st July, and to suppress trade in December next.
You should make a strong protest to Chinese Government.
[2519 dd-1]
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