357

1917 those six Provinces were inspeeted by offiosrs of His Majesty's Consular Service in China and likewise declared free of cultivation; and at the end of that year It is alear, the export of Indian opium to Chine ceased, therefore, that His Majesty's Government have faithfully carried out their part of the Treaty obligations between the twe countries in regard to the opium traffic.

6. On the other hand, the backsliding of China în the matter of opium sultivation during the past three or four years is notericus, and constitutes a direct violation

Lord of her solemn Treaty obligations to Great Britain. Curson proposes to instrust His Majesty'■ Representative at Peking to address a formal sommunisation to the Chinese Government on the lines set forth in this letter; to add that Hia Majesty's Goverment are indignant to learn of the gross bad faith displayed by the Government and people of China, and to warn the Chinese Government that when the facts besome know, the whole sivilised world will unite in son- demning the retrogression of the Chinese authorities in permitting and, in mumerous cases, deliberately encouraging this revival of the opim traffic in China.

Before issuing instructions en the above lines to Sir B. Alston, who resumed charge of His Majesty's Legation at Feking on December 10th, 1930, Lord Curzon proposes valt a reasonable time in case he may have forwarded any further observations or recommendations on the subject of

Share This Page