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4
appointed the Hsu Hai Taoyin, Li Ching-chang, and Ts'un Ch'i Taoyin, Wang Keng- ting, as special deputies to co-operate in the joint inspection.
I avail, &c.
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
(Seal of the Wai-chiao Pu.)
Wai-chiao Pu to Sir J. Jordan.
(Translation.) Sir,
Peking, May 1, 1915. WITH reference to the joint inspection of opium cultivation in the province of Kiangsu, the officials appointed by this Ministry and the Ministry of Interior left Peking on the 20th April.
A letter has now been received from the Revenue Council to the effect that the officials appointed by them to hold secret investigations into opium cultivation in the province of Kiangsu report that no traces of opium cultivation have been seen in any of the places through which they have passed, but that in the Hsuchow and Haichow districts there are places where the poppy has not been entirely exterminated; they suggest, however, that there would appear to be no reason why the British and Chinese officials conducting the joint inspection should not delay for a short while going to these places.
This proposal, submitted for consideration by the Revenue Council, namely that the joint inspection of these two places should be postponed, is made with a view to getting at the real truth of the matter; but it is observed that the procedure for joint inspection and prohibition of import hitherto adopted has in every case referred to a single province. Since the Revenue Council states that Hsuchow and Haichow in the province of Kiangsu have been found not to be clear of poppy cultivation, the only course is to temporarily request that any steps to carry out a joint inspection of opium cultivation in the province of Kiangsu this year should be stopped, in order to manifest that we are in earnest.
The deputies from this Ministry are being informed, and I bave the honour also to inform your Excellency and to request you to issue the necessary instructions.
Compliments, &c. (For Minister for Foreign Affairs),
TS AO JU-LIN.
Enclosure 5 in No. 1.
AGREEMENT dated the 1st day of May, 1915, relating to the Suppression of the Illicit Sales of Native Opium in Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuangtung, between the Shanghai and Hong Kong Opium Merchants Combines and the Special Envoy for the Prohibition of the Sales of Native Opium in Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuangtung.
THIS agreement, made the 1st day of May, 1915, between the persons, firms, and companies who are members of, and constitute, the Shanghai and Hong Kong Opium Merchants Combines (hereinafter called "the Combines") of the one part, and Ts'ai Nai Huang, the special envoy appointed by the Chinese Government by Presidential mandate, dated the 30th day of April, 1915, for the prohibition of the sales of native opium in the provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuangtung (hereinafter called "the Envoy"), of the other part;
Whereas, by the Opium Agreement of 1911, between His Britannic Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government Indian opium can be conveyed into any province of China wherein the cultivation and import of native opium have not been effectively suppressed;
And whereas in the provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuantung the cultivation and import of native opium have not been so suppressed
And whereas by the laws of China the sale of native opium in any part of China. whatsoever is illegal;
And whereas it has been found that in the said provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuangtung there is a large illicit trade in native opium, which greatly interferes with the sales of Indian opium, therein thereby preventing the consumption of Indian
opium at present stocked in Shanghai and Hong Kong, and delaying the total suppression of opium in China;
And whereas the Combines are the owners of, or have under their control 6,000 chests of Bengal and of Malwa opium, or thereabouts, which are at present stocked in Shanghai and Hong Kong;
And whereas the Combines are desirous of removing the aforesaid interference with the sales of Indian opium in the said provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuantung, and are willing and ready of their own free will to make the hereinafter mentioned contribution to the Chinese Government towards the expenses incurred in removing the said interference on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter contained;
And whereas the Envoy has, at the request of the Combines, petitioned the Chinese Government to remove the said interference with the sales of Indian opium in the said provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuantung (which the Chinese Government has agreed to), on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter contained;
Now this agreement witnesseth that the Combines and the Envoy have mutually agreed as follows:-
1. That the Combines shall make to the Chinese Government a contribution of 3,500 dollars per chest of Indian opium taken delivery of from the Combines in Shanghai or Hong Kong, during the term of this agreement, towards the expenses incurred in the detection and suppression of the illicit sales of native opium in the said provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuangtung, payable in such amounts and at such times and in such manner as hereinafter mentioned.
2. The Combines shall pay to the Chinese Government, through its duly authorised representative, the Envoy Ts'ai Nai Huang, on every Saturday morning during the term of this agreement, the amount of contribution hereby agreed to be made on all Indian opium taken delivery of from the Combines during the preceding week since the last payment: Provided that the first accumulated payment shall be made one month after the execution of this agreement.
3. Proper receipts for the said contribution shall be given to the Combines by the Chinese Government through its duly authorised representative, the envoy as aforesaid.
4. The Combines bereby guarantee that not less than 6,000 chests of Indian opium will be available for delivery during the term of this agreement, and that the full amount of the said contribution will be paid to the Chinese Government as aforesaid on every chest of the said opium taken delivery of
5. The Chinese Government shall be at liberty to apply the said contributions in any manner it shall think fit.
6. Forty bails of Bengal and not exceeding 105 catties (Customs scales) of Malwa opium shall respectively constitute one chest of Indian opium.
7. The said contribution is willingly made by the Combines of their own free will for the sole purpose of assisting the Chinese Government in the detection and suppression of the illicit sales of native opium in the said provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuangtung, thereby enabling the Indian opium at present stocked in Shanghai and Hong Kong to be more speedily disposed of and expediting the total suppression of opium in China, and is not in any wise a tax, duty, or imposition imposed or levied by the Chinese Government.
8. In the event of any Indian opium at present stocked in Shanghai or Hong Kong being sold to Chinese dealer or dealers for conveyance into any of the said provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, or Kuangtung or any part thereof, the Envoy or his representative shall issue to the Combines a special Government stamp or certificate to be affixed on each ball or packet of opium so sold or any portion thereof, the said stamp or certificate to be affixed in the presence of representatives of the Envoy, and the Combines and the Envoy hereby guarantees on behalf of the Chinese Government that all opium so stamped or certificated will pass all custom or li-kin houses or stations within the said provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuangtung without let or hindrance, and that the sellers and purchasers thereof within the said provinces will not in any wise be interfered with by the local authorities of the said provinces.
9. The Envoy shall, on the execution of this agreement, petition the Chinese Government to order the respective Changchuns and Civil Governors of the said provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kuantung to take stringent and effective measures for the detectio and suppression of the illicit sales of native opium therein with a view
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to its extinctio... thereby enabling the Indian opium at present stocked in Shanghai and Hong Kong to be more speedily disposed of and expediting the total suppression
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