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whole of this evidence points to one conclusion---that there has been no relapse save what was inevitable during the interval between the overthrow of the old Government, and the establishment of the new; also that the new Government, in those places where it is firmly established, is proving itself on the whole more thorough than the old in the suppression campaign.
vag
The season we have chosen for making this investigation is not the best season. The late autumn and the winter are the seasons for the sowing of poppy in most parts, and it cannot be known definitely until next spring how the suppression of the poppy under the new régime compares with pre-revolution conditions. But we were forced to take up the question at this time. The opium interests in London were doing all in their power to induce the Government to revoke the opium agreement of 1911- that is, to open China again to a large importation of Indian opium-because of the relapse of the revolution year. Few people knew that the London "Times uttering nonsense in declaring, "The fields of China are aflame with poppy to-day " at a time when one season's harvest had been in the stores for months and when the next season's sowing had not yet begun. Most people who read that took it to mean that the cultivation of opium was in full swing again throughout China, and they believed that to be the truth. They did not know that the modicum of truth on which it was based was true only for the revolution year. There are many places where, even during the revolution year, cultivation was effectually prohibited, and others where the poppy crops were rooted up before the harvest. And, as China has extricated herself from the disorders of revolution, the measures for suppressing the opium trade have become more and more stringent. It is fair to take that as an indication of what will be done to suppress opium cultivation this season.
In five provinces the death penalty for offences against the opium lawa has been proclaimed, and in Human, Szechuan, Shensi, and Auhwei, the penalty has already claimed its victims.
In several of the provinces troops have already been sent out to scour the country and see that no opium is allowed to grow. And in some the magistrates themselves are touring to see that the prohibitory proclamations are obeyed.
Below we publish summaries of the reports by provinces. The general trend of the evidence shows that the places where measures of suppression are still in abeyance are those in which the authority of the new Government has not yet been thoroughly established. The borderlands, even of so clean a province as Hunan, had crops last season, and in some of them sowing has begun for the present season. So also in the wild hill districts of Honan and among the Lolos and Miao of the far west. And so most notably in the province of Kweichow, where the reported to be larger than ever before. In each case these are the districts that crop is must inevitably be the last to be brought under strict control by the new Government. In Kweichow, ever since the revolution, there has been a condition verging on war between rival governors. The province has had no well-established Government. How could it be expected that these wild lands, peopled largely by utterly barbarous tribes, and never properly subdued in the centuries of Manchu rule, could have been brought under perfect control within a year of the revolution?
Outside of Kweichow province practically every witness from whom we have heard testifies that the new officials, if they have not already succeded in stopping the cultivation and sale of opium, are in true earnest in their efforts to do so.
Another evidence that opium throughout China is less plentiful than before the revolution is the fact that the price in almost all places has advanced greatly.
Summed up,
the evidence shows:-
1. There was a relapse during the revolution, but on the whole only a slight relapse. 2. That, as the new rulers have established themselves, they have introduced measures more severe on the whole than those of the Manchus for opium suppression.
3. That the observers throughout the country are confident that the present season will see the suppression campaign carried out, on the whole, more strictly than
ever.
This being so, how is it possible to justify the assertion made officially in the House of Commons that China has sigually failed to carry out her part of the opium agreement?
Reports by Provinces.
Chekiang Eight districts heard from. All report present officials vigorous in suppression campaign. Five districts report a slight relapse in regard to cultivation
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last spring, but crop not nearly so large as in years before suppression. In two districts crop entirely uprooted before harvest. One district practically free. Deputies sent out to prevent sowing this winter.
Retail shops
Anhwei-Death penalty announced. One man executed at Wuhu. closed, and wholesale dealers agree to cease trade within a month. Recrudescence of growing in extreme north and on Kiangsu border, but in other districts either no relapse or only negligible. Troops sent to all parts of province to prevent growing this season. Large quantities of opium burned. Price enormously increased-twenty-fold in Yingchow.
Kiangsi-Death penalty announced for second offence.
The reports from this province are largely nugatory. Some districts report stricter, some less strict, suppression of growing and smoking. The province has never had large opium crops, but some is still grown in out-of-the-way parts. Sale is now under Government control, and absolute prohibition ordered to come into force at close of this year.
Hunan.-Death penalty announced and enforced at four cities. Suppression far more vigorous than before revolution. Whole province clean except in hill district on southern border, where some poppy was grown last spring; suppression is expected even there this season. Total prohibition in many parts, enforced by making neighbours responsible to see no opium is used; 91,000 taels worth of opium burned at Changsha,
Hupeh.-Trade taken over by Government at Wuchang and Ichang, and licensed smoking must cease in ten months. Shops and dens closed in most parts. has ceased in Anlu an farther weat, where formerly abundant harvests were gathered. Growing Sinchow and Macheng report some crop gathered last spring. Price exceedingly high.
Honan.-Recrudescence of crops last spring in hill districts and borderlands. In other districts suppression is practically complete. Deputies sent to all parts to prevent sowing this season. Officials determined on prohibition.
Chilli. Only one district heard from Some opium planted last spring, but rooted up before harvest.
Shansi. Two districts report that opium sown during revolution was all uprooted and growers punished. Two others report some opium harvested, but very small amount compared with years before suppression, and present officials desire suppression. Shensi. Death penalty announced. Six executions reported. Considerable relapse in matter of cultivation last spring. Hanchung reports present officials mean well but are helpless.
Kansu. Two districts heard from. Relapse last spring, but crop small compared with years before suppression. One report presents officials determined on suppression; the other says "things are in the balance" in regard to the present season. Republicanism not yet well established in the province.
Szechuan.-Death penalty announced and execution reported. Troops now used freely to enforce opium laws.
Ichang reports no exportation from this province.
Eastern part of province reports that the suppression of growing, transportation and smoking of opium is generally very strict, but in Luchow district some laxity still exists. Western districts report slight recrudescence of opium growing in hill country. Present officials are vigilaut.
Kweichow. Opium grown "everywhere." Crops larger than ever before. People laugh at proclamations. Headmen compel peasants to grow opium.
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Extracts from Missionaries' Letters on the Opium Question.
The Province of Kansu.
1. TSIN CHOU, September 4, 1912:—
"We have returned to old times again, and there are no regulations save the tax on the land, which was collected on the land sown with the poppy at three rates according to the quality of the land. We now await to see if any proclamations are forthcoming to forbid the sowing. If these do not come out the whole province will be sowa, some in the autumn and more in the spring of 1913. This is a great set back
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