}
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
564
30608
SECTION 1.
[66154]
(No. 97.) Sir,
No. I.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received May 25.)
Peking, April 28, 1915. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you herewith copies of correspondence which has passed between myself and the Wai-chiac Pu regarding the inspection of Kiangsi with a view to the prohibition of the import of Indian opium into that province. It will be seen that I have been obliged to refuse to accede to the application made by Kiangsi. Year after year this province has either made its application at a time when it was impossible to conduct any effective inspection, or has withdrawn its application when the time for inspection approached. This year I repeatedly warned the Chinese Government against allowing a repetition of these tactics, and I am informed that this warning was duly communicated to the Provincial Government. In spite of this, the application for inspection of Kiangsi did not reach me until a fortnight after the time the investigation should have commenced, and it would have required at least another fortnight to make the necessary arrangements. In the circumstances, I had no option but to decline to proceed with the examination.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Euclosure 1 in No. 1.
Wai-chiao Pu to Sir J. Jordan.
Sir,
Peking, April 14, 1915. I HAVE received a telegram from the Governor of Kiangsi, stating that the cultivation of the opium poppy in Kiangsi province has long ago been prohibited, and that according to the reports of men who have made investigations it has completely ceased. He adds that in the past the poppy has been in flower during the months of April and May, and requests that arrangements be made with your Excellency for the fixing of a time for joint investigation.
I have the honour to observe that your Excellency agreed last spring to the appointment of deputies for the joint investigation of opium in Kiangsi. Subsequently owing to the disturbed condition of the province, the authorities telegraphically requested a postponement, a note was addressed to your Excellency, and your consent to the postponement granted.
In view of the above telegram now received from the Kiangsi Governor, I have the honour to inform you officially, and trust that you will at once appoint an official, communicate his name to this Ministry, and fix a date for him to proceed to Kiangsi for joint investigation.
Awaiting the favour of your Excellency's reply,
I avail, &c.
(Seal of the Wai-chiao Pu.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 1,
Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Wai-chiao Pu.
Peking, April 16, 1915. WITH reference to your Excellency's note of the 14th instant, requesting me to appoint an official for the joint investigation of the province of Klangsi, with a view to the prohibition of the import of Indian opium into that province, I have the honour to point out that I have repeatedly during the past few months warned the Wai-chiao Pu of the necessity for making application for the joint investigation of provinces in good time, in order to enable the necessary arrangements to be made.
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