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when the return call will be paid on board His Majesty's ship, but would feel obliged if the time might be told as soon as possible, so that His Majesty's Minister may
be apprised thereof.
Enclosure 12 in No. I.
Secretary Tso Shan of Opium Bureau to Dr. McCarthy's Teacher Chu.
(Translation.)
Dear Mr. Chu,
October 7, 1912. IN accordance with your wishes, I proceeded yesterday to the tutu's yamên to make enquiries.
In regard to the question with the foreigners, it appears that seven chests of opium were burnt, four of which had no bill of lading or transit certificate. Three chests had bills of lading, but no transit certificate. Although transit certificates are mentioned in the treaties, the goods imported were Chinese-owned and foreigners have no right to interfere. The bills of lading are in the nature of insurance for the merchants and there is no international question. Further, there were twenty packages not burnt which had transit certificates. The foreign date was changed into the Chinese date and was incorrect. The opium was, therefore, detained. Again, it was all discovered on the hulk, and it is not the case that it was removed from the steamer.
The opium dealers made one-sided enquiries, and Kuang Chang got the Liu Ch'eng Chi hong at Shanghai to intrigue with the foreign merchants. The latter, it is said, begged the consul to demand 50,000 taels compensation. But Anhui province is in very great straits for money and could not possibly pay such a large sum in compensation.
I feel sure that with your love for your county you will be able to speak words of advice to Dr. McCarthy. The tutu will hold out to the bitter end and will never accept liability. I will leave the rest until we meet.
(Translation.)
Sir,
K
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Enclosure 15 in No. 1.
Anhui Tutu to Consul-General Sir E. Fraser.
October 9, 1912.
I REGRET greatly that owing to my having contracted a chill there has been a delay in returning your call.
I have now recovered somewhat from my indisposition and I intend to repair on board His Majesty's ship "Flora" at 10 A.M. on the 10th October to call on you.
I have, &c.
(Translation.)
Sir,
Enclosure 16 in No. 1.
Anhui Tutu to Consul-General Sir E. Fraser.
October 9, 1912.
I VERY much regret that during the last few days our mutual ill-health has prevented our having a good talk.
To-day I am somewhat better in health and, as you are doubtless aware, I had written to appoint 10 A.M. to-morrow for returning your call.
I have at this moment received your letter announcing your departure early to-morrow morning. I beg that you will remain a little longer, and I shall be much obliged if you will let me know whether you can postpone the ship's sailing hour until after 10 o'clock.
I have, &c.
415
me
idia
Yours truly,
Enclosure 13 in No. 1.
Chi Keng-huan to Deputy, China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company's Hulk. (Translation.) Sir,
September 14, 1912.
THE superintendent of river police has informed me by telephone that he is detaining on board the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company's hulk three chests of opium consigned to the Ting Chang firm per the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company's steam-ship "Kiangkuan," and has forwarded to me three bills of lading for the same. I have reported the above facts to the governor and ain now in receipt of his verbal instructions to the effect that, as its importation is a gross contravention of the governor's proclamations on the subject, the opium is to be detained at this station and dealt with in accordance with the governor's orders.
I have to request, therefore, that you will hand over the opium to this department, dealer who may raise objections and remonstrate with you personally to which
any should be referred.
I am, &c.
CHI KENG-HUAN,
Chief Commissioner of Police.
Enclosure 14 in No. 1.
Chi Keng-huan to Deputy, China Merchants' Steam Navigation Company's Hulk. (Précis translation.)
[N.B.-Note identical with preceding note, except that in this case the name of the ship was "Kiang Hua," and the number of chests four.]
Enclosure 17 in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated to Wai-chiao Pu.
WITH reference to his memoranda of the 20th and 30th September on the subject of the seizure and destruction of seven chests of Indian opium at the city of Anking on the 16th September, His Majesty's Minister has the honour to inform the Wai Chiao-Pu that he has now received from His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai a full report on his investigations regarding this matter.
At an interview which Sir Edward Fraser had at Anking with the Tutu of Anhui, the latter made no attempt to deny that the seven chests of Indian opium had been seized and destroyed by his direct orders, though he professed to defend his action by asserting that the seven chests were not covered by the necessary transit certificates. With the other arguments advanced by the tutu in support of his flagrant defiance of the solemn treaty obligations entered into by the late Manchu Government it is unnecessary for His Majesty's Minister to deal, as His Majesty's consul-general was able to procure conclusive proof of the falsity of the tutu's assertions in the shape of the actual transit certificates covering all the opium seized at Anking,
The facts of this outrage have been duly reported by telegraph to His Majesty's Government, who have now instructed His Majesty's Minister to inform the Chinese Government that they demand full compensation for the value of the opium seized and destroyed, and the publication throughout the province of Anhui of a proclamation embodying the terms of the telegram dispatched by the then Wai-wu Pu to the provincial autorities on the 15th June, 1911.
Sir John Jordan will communicate to the Wai-chiao Pu, as soon as it has been definitely ascertained, the value of the opium seized and destroyed.
Peking, October 24, 1912.
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