This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[63404]
No. 1.
[December 21.]
SEOTION 3.
Sir,
Foreign Office to China Association.
Foreign Office, December 21, 1912. I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant in which you enquire whether the report of Sir E. Fraser on the seizure and destruction of opium at Anking has yet been received, and if so, what course His Majesty's Government intend to follow.
In reply I am to inform you that the report in question has been received, and as it established, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, clear evidence of illegal action on the part of the local authorities a note was addressed by His Majesty's Minister at Peking, under instructions from the Secretary of State, to the Wai-chiao Pu, demanding compensation for the value of the opinm destroyed and the publication throughout the province of Anhui of a proclamation explaining the opium agreement of 1911, in accordance with the terms of the Wai-wu Pu's circular telegram to the provinces of the 15th June of that year.
In reply to Sir J. Jordan's note the Chinese Government endeavoured to defend the action of the local authorities, and stated that they could not admit any liability of the latter to pay compensation. On receipt of this reply Sir J. Jordan addressed a further communication to the Wai-chiao Pa refuting their arguments in great detail, and renewing his demand for compensation and for the issue of a proclamation which will ensure an observance of the existing opium agreements.
As regards the general situation of the opium question, I am to state that measures for meeting the present serious state of affairs are receiving the instant consideration of His Majesty's Government.
[2736 x-3]
I am, &c.
W. LANGLEY.
108