[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)
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SECTION 1.
REC
[23978]
勇
(No. 193.) Sir,
No. 1.
REG 6 JUL 14
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 29.)
Peking, May 14, 1914. WITH reference to my despatch No. 158 of the 20th April, I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul at Foochow, reporting the steps taken on the closing of the province of Fukien on the 1st May to the importation of Indian opium.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Consul Wilkinson to Sir J. Jordan,
(No. 14.) Sir,
Foochow, May 4, 1914. ON receipt of your telegraphic instructions of the 20th ultimo, I at once notified the public in Foochow that the prohibition of the importation of Indian opium into Fukien province would take effect from the 1st May. On the following day I learnt that, as a result of the notification, sixteen chests had been released that day from bond, and, further, that it was the intention of the foreign opium importers not only to remove the rest of their stocks from the Customs bonded godown, but to import further large consignments from Hong Kong. As it was evident from this that the importers were under the impression that stocks imported before the 1st May would be allowed to go into consumption, I at once advised the principal British firms concerned that, according to my interpretation of the Opium Agreement of 1911, the Chinese authorities were entitled, from the date on which the importation of Indian opium into any province was prohibited, to declare the trade contraband, and adopt any restrictive measures they pleased to stop the sale and movement of the drug, and that, as the local authorities had notified me of their intention to put a complete end to the trade in Fukien, British firms would not be at liberty after the 30th April to continue to do business in opium.
I found, however, that the British importers in Foochow were not in agreement with my views on the subject, and that they were supported in their contention that they could go on selling opium until their stocks were exhausted by their Hong Kong principals, Messrs. Sassoon and Co., and other firms. Under the circumstances telegraphed to you on the 23rd ultimo, requesting your instructions as to the attitude I should take up, and, on receipt of your reply of the 25th ultimo, I issued a second notification to the effect that no British merchant would be allowed to continue to trade in opium at Foochow after the end of the month, and that any stocks remaining unsold on that date would have to be re-exported. Fortunately, however, my first warning had been taken seriously by the importers, and after the 22nd April only five more chests were removed from bond, while some twenty-seven which arrived from Hong Kong on the 27th April were re-exported without being landed.
On the 29th April the Commissioner of Customs, after consultation with me, also issued a notification informing merchants that, should they desire to re-export any atocks they might have of duty-paid Indian opium remaining unsold on the 30th April, they should file the necessary applications on the 1st May. Similarly all opium remaining on that date in bond should be declared for re-export by the 3rd May, and actually re-exported by the 15th May.
As I have since telegraphed to you, the total quantity of opium left in bond on the 1st May, all of which will of course be re-exported, is 101 chests; but it appears that, except for three chests belonging to Messrs. Petigura, no applications have been made to re-export duty-paid opium, of which some thirty or forty chests must obviously be
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