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Hunan province. He had also sent other experienced officers to make comprehensive tours of inspection and punishment, and to spare no pains; and the reports received in due course from the deputies showed that all opium plants had been completely eradicated. Moreover, he had addressed to the tutus of all the adjoining provinces requests to prohibit the export of native opium from neighbouring ports into Hunan, and had sent troops to strategic points to stop its passage. therefore, that in the province of Hunan the cultivation of the native drug has been It is abundantly clear, suppressed, while native opium is no longer imported from other provinces, and the tutu asks that the terms of the agreement be carried out.
From Anbui too comes a telegram from the tutu, who states that in April he reported by telegraph that cultivation had been effectively suppressed, and requested that the import of opium should be finally stopped. Since that date opium suppression has been strictly enforced, rigorous investigations have been made throughout the province, and the suppression of cultivation is complete, while prohibition of sale and consumption are also being carried out. In the same way with regard to the pro- hibition of the import of opium from neighbouring provinces, identic notifications were sent in May to Changsha, Kaifeng, and elsewhere. "In view, therefore," continues the tutu, "of the success which has undoubtedly attended the several measures for the gradual suppression of opium, I have the honour to request that diplomatic action be taken in accordance with the agreement and on the ground of equity to forbid the import of Indian opium into the province of Anhui,”
The success which has attended the opium suppression measures taken in Chihli aud other provinces appears to the Wai-chiao Pu to be fully established, borne out as it is by the accurate reports of the several tutus, which show that the suppression of the native drug is really complete, while the import of native opium from other provinces has been prohibited, and the circunstances are closely parallel to those in Fengtien, &c. In accordance, therefore, with the Opium Agreement, the import of Indian opium into any of these provinces should be prohibited.
Proposals to take action in this matter in accordance with precedent have already been made verbally to your Excellency, but have not yet received your assent.
The Wai-chiao Pu have now made further strict investigations into the reports of the various provinces as to the conditions of the entire suppression of the native drug, and these reports are clearly based on facts. That being so the permission to import Indian opium is equally profitless, and merely a fruitful source of disputes.
I have the honour, therefore, to move your Excellency to consent to allow the provinces of Chihli, Shantung, Kuangsi, Hunan, and Anhui to prohibit the import of Indian opium.
I await the favour of a reply, &c.
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[55582]
Sir,
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
[January 14.]
SECTION 1.
Foreign Office, January 14, 1913. I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Peking reporting representations which he has made to the Chinese Government with regard to the restrictions placed by the Yang-taze provincial authorities on the Indian opium trade and the destruction of the seven chests of opium at Anching.*
Sir E. Grey proposes, subject to the Marquess of Crewe's concurrence, to approve Sir J. Jordan's action.
* Sir J. Jordan, No. 486.
[2766 o -1]
I am, &c.
W. LANGLEY.
(Seal of Wai-chiao Pu.)