[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. { ̈
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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[July 7.1
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(No. 88.) Sir,
RES? I NOV 17
Mr. Alston to Mr. Balfour-(Received July 7.)
Peking, March 13, 1917. WITH reference to my despatch No. 37 of the 24th January and your telegram No. 57 of the 23rd February, I have the honour to report that on the 26th February I addressed a note (copy enclosed) to the Wai-chiao Pu informing them that His Majesty's Government assented to the proposal of the Chinese Government that the six Provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, Kuangtung, Shensi, Tünnan, and Kueichow should be jointly inspected for opium cultivation, and on the 4th March I received your telegram No. 74stating that Government of India desired that the inspections should be as thorough as possible. I sent a member of my staff to the Ministry to discuss with the Commercial Department, which is in charge of the opium affairs, the arrangements to be made, as far as they can be settled in Peking, with regard to the appointment of the British and Chinese delegates and their dates and places of rendezvous.
These are sent out in my notes to the Wai-chiac Pu of the 7th and 12th March, of which copies are enclosed herewith. It will be seen that I have appointed the following consular officers as the British delegates:-
Kiangsu Mr. W. S. Toller, acting consul at Ningpo.
Kiangsi: Mr. W. R. Brown, acting consul, Kiukiang.
Kuangtung: Mr. Wyatt Smith, His Majesty's Consulate, Swatow.
Shensi: Mr. E. Teichman, His Majesty's Legation, Peking.
Kueichow and Eastern Yünnan: Mr. B. Tours, C.M.G., His Majesty's consul,
Ichang.
Western Yüunan: Mr. A. E. Eastes, acting consul, Tengyuch,
Aud I have to enclose herewith copies of the instructions that I bave issued for their guidance.*
It was at first intended that Mr. Tours should inspect Kueichow only, but, as a convenient way for his return journey would be via the Yunnan Railway and Tonkin, I subsequently decided that he should inspect Eastern Yünnan en route, and so secure & more thorough investigation of a province where recent reports would indicate that certain amount of opium cultivation is to be found.
I have not, so far, received a reply from the Wai-chiao Pn to my notes, nor have I yet been informed of the names of the delegates appointed by the Chinese Governmeut, but it has been arranged verbally that, as regards the distant Provinces of Kuangtung, Yünuan, and Kuoichow, the Governors concerned shall be instructed to make the necessary arrangements in consultation with His Majesty's consuls at Swatow, Yunnan, and Chungking, and I have received a telegram from Swatow stating that Mr. Wyatt Smith will start on his tour of investigation on the 14th or 15th March. Mr. Tours will reach Chungking at the end of March and will proceed immediately with the juspection of Kucichow and Eastern Yünnan, while the inspection of Western Yüonan will be begun as soon as the Chinese have appointed their deputies, which I am urging them to do without delay.
For the other three provinces I understand that deputies are to be sent from Peking The Chinese delegates for Kiangsu are to meet Mr. Toller at Nauking on or about the 25th April, and those for Kiangsi are to be instructed to arrive at Kiukiang on the 20th March und place themselves in communication with His Majesty's consul at that port.
The inspecting party for Shensi will leave Peking at the end of March.
B. ALSTON.
I have, &c.
* Not printed.
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