[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
218
C.O.
[June 12.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
SECTION 3.
3.37978
[26416]
No. 1.
RECO REG 5 OCT 14
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received June 12.)
Peking, May 26, 1914.
(No. 213.) Sir,
I HAVE the honour to reply to your despatch No. 80 of the 4th April, asking for information regarding the sale and consumption of opium in foreign concessions and settlements in China, and for observations on the question of the adoption of suppressive
Imeasures.
With the single exception of Shanghai, sale and consumption of opium may be considered as practically non-existent in the foreign concessions and settlements in China.
Thus, in Ningpo, Chinkiang, Wuhu, and Kinkiang there is no sale or consumption of opium within the foreign concessions or settlements except in a few illicit and clandestine cases, the opium for which has been sinuggled into the foreign limits.
In the case of the British concession at Kiukiang provision is made in the land regulations for the issue of municipal licences for the retailing and consumption of opium within the concession, but there are no licences issued at present, and His Majesty's osul at Kiukiang states that it is certain that none will be issued,
At Tien-tsic shops for the sale of opium existed recently in the French and Japanese concessions, and two small shops in the latter concession still carry on business, although it was reported in the case of both concessions that all opium shops had been closed by the 1st April, 1914. One shop in the German concession, paying a monthly licence fee of 200 dollars, and one in the Austrian concession, paying a monthly licence fee of 3 dol. 75 c., still sell opium; but both these shops are to be closed on or before the 1st July next. There is no sale within the British concession.
At Hankow the French, Russian, and Japanese concessions are, owing to anti- opium bye-laws, practically free of opium, and while there is no prohibition in the German concession, the German consul has stated that there is, to the best of his knowledge, no opium within his concession limits. In the British concession sale and consumption are controlled by municipal bye-laws, and no licenses have been issued.
With regard to Shanghai, I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at that port. The number of licensed opium shops in the French concession and in the international settlement is 685, a considerable increase having occurred within the last three years.
In considering the possibility of suppressive measures, the only port therefore which requires attention is Shanghai. Any arrangements touching the French concession there will, of course, lie wholly with the French authorities; while the municipal council of the international settlement is the body which regulates the trade in opium within its limits. As to the method of suppression, it appears to lie in the withdrawal from the opium shops of licenses which are at present issued monthly. As Sir Everard Fraser points out, the international settlement and the French concession at Shanghai affords the only present outlet for the stocks of certified Indian opium awaiting entry into China. Should any steps, therefore, be taken to suppress the opium shops within the foreign limits of Shanghai, His Majesty's Government will undoubtedly be called upon at once to face the problem of the balance of stocks of certificated opium,
I have, &c.
Enclosure in No. 1.
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 49.) Sir,
Consul-General Fraser to Sir J. Jordan.
Shanghai, May 5, 1914.
IN compliance with your circular No. 8e, of the 28th April, I have the honour to report that in the international settlement and the French concession at Shanghai the
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