2
their face value in ten years time, will no doubt give rise to difficulties in the future and we may find ourselves faced with a request for diplomatic action to enforce payment for a transaction which originated in fraud and ended in smoke.
But in the meantime the opium merchants appear to be satisfied with the arrangement, and it is possible that they have in some way insured themselves against losa. Possibly the sale of the 300 chests prior to the decision to burn the stocks, and which realised sum of 4,800,000 taels, has gone some way towards meeting the debt.
#
Foreign
The foreign trade in opium which began in the eighteenth century has thus come to a dramatic end in the burning of the surplus Indian stocks, and it only remaine for foreign Governments to keep a strict watch on exports. After a campaign of twelve years, in which the Government of India have played a noble part, we have removed finally the stigma attaching in the popular mind to our connection with this C traffic, and by keeping our own hands clean in the future we can continue to exercis pressure to prevent the exploitation of China by other countries, and to assist the Chinese to eradicate their own cultivation. On the whole the Chinese have co-operate cordially with us in this great task and are grateful for what we have done. It has been estimated that the amount of money spent by Chinese on foreign opium legitimately imported through the customs during the sixteen years from 1901 to 1916 must have been about 1,000,000,000 taels. This sum shows what potentialities exist for other merchandise. But much work remains to be done in China itself. T province of Shensi which was declared free of poppy cultivation in August 1917. İs now, owing to the disorganised state of the country, again planted all over under the protection of brigand hands. On the other hand, in the neighbouring province” of Shansi, where a capable governor exercises authority, no opiuin is either grown or imported. In several southern provinces, notably Fukien, where the land has been devastated by civil war, the farmers are encouraged to grow
the recoup their loss. Until more orderly suministration Funde puppy in order to exprovinces and better control can be exercised over them, the complete eradication of cuftivatio: cannot be hoped for; but there is little doubt that so long as the present Presiden
There is a stil remains in power a determined effort in this direction will be made. more hopeful signa; it can no longer be said that there is no public opinion on than subject in China. The work of the last twelve years is bearing fruit.
Wide publicity is given in the native as well as the foreign press to the question. The people are impressed with the necessity of putting their house in order if they wish to benetic by the advantages of the new age and to gain the goodwill of the nations of Ej + and America. Under the auspices of the International Anti-Opium Association of Shanghai and the Peking Anti-Opium Campaign Committee, large public meetings are to be held in the principal cities and the people will be urged to support the Government in its efforts to regenerate the country. It is, moreover, proposed to approach th various foreign Governments through the Peace Conference in order to secure ti- enactment of effective legislation for the enforcement of article 15 of The Hag Convention of 1912. It is sincerely to be hoped that Great Britain will continue to play the leading and honourable part she has taken in this question.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Office
1919
8th May.
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