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I have the honour to request the Wai-chiao Pu to approach His Majesty's Minister at Peking, and obtain the prohibition of the import of the Indian drug, in order to stop the poison at its source."
year
The Tutu, therefore, requested the Minister to take action as requested. On the 1st July a telegram was received from the Tutu and Civil Governor of Hupeh transmitting the following report from the head of the Department of the Interior of that province :-
'Since last orders have repeatedly been issued prohibiting opium throughout Hupeh; its suppression was enjoined upon the magistrates of all the districts, the police and the self-government bodies, while, at the busier commercial marts, special bureaux were established in order to forcibly bring about the speedy prohibition of the drug. Moreover, deputies were appointed to look for poppy cultivation, to travel to the various districts and inspect on the spot, while the military has on many occasions been ordered to assist in cutting down the plants in the country near to their posts, in order to exterminate all vestiges of cultivation. I have now received reports from the various bureaux, magistrates and deputies to the effect that poppy cultivation has been completely extinguished throughout the whole territory of the province. Sealed guarantees to this effect have been received from the self-government bodies, from district magistrates and from deputies, and the Tutu and Civil Governor have examined the evidence and found it true. In view of the facts that opium cultivation throughout the province has been extinguished, and that import of native opium from other provinces has long ago been prohibited, as can be found on referring to the records, it follows that the import of Indian opium should be stopped, in accordance with treaty, in order to aid the excellent intentions of friendly countries which desire to assist us. I have the honour to request that negotiations for the prohibition of import of Indian opium into Hupeh may be commenced with the British Minister at Peking."
The Wai-chiao Pu have the honour to observe that it is on record that import of Indian opium into many individual provinces has been prohibited in accordance with article 3 of the Opium Agreement. Reports have been now received from Kiangsi and Hupeh showing by reliable evidence that poppy cultivation in those provinces has been prohibited and extinguished, and that import of the native drug from other provinces has also been forbidden. It follows that, as in the case of Chihli and other provinces these provinces should be placed on the list of those into which import of Indian opium is forbidden, pending the revision of the Opium Agreement. The Wai-chiao Pu have the honour to ask Mr. Alston to consent to this, and trusts to receive his reply.
(Seal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.)
Enclosure 2 in No. 4.
Mr. Alston to Wai-chiao Pu.
Peking, July 16, 1913.
MR. ALSTON has the honour to acknowledge the memorandum of the 3rd July from the Wai-chiao Pu to the effect that reports had been received from Kiangsi and Hupeh showing by reliable evidence that poppy cultivation had been prohibited and extinguished and that import of the native drug from other provinces had also been forbidden, and requesting that these two provinces might be placed on the list of those into which import of Indian opium is forbidden.
Mr. Alston would state, in reply, that His Majesty's Legation has ever been ready to make the necessary investigations in all cases of provinces which it might be desired to place on the prohibition list.
The poppy season in Kiangsi and Hupeh is now over, and it is too late to attempt any inspection. It is unfortunate that Kiangsi and Hupeh did not make their applications earlier, if they wished to be placed on the prohibition list this year.
Mr. Alston is calling upon His Majesty's consuls at Kiukiang, Hankow and Ichang to submit reports in this connection, and on their receipt will again communicate with the Wai-chiao Pu on the subject.
Sir,
No. 5.
Mr. Alston to Sir Edward Grey. (Received August 18.)
REFERRING to the despatches from this Legation of the 4th and 27th June
Peking, August 3, 1913. respectively, I have the honour to enclose copy of correspondence with the Wai-chiao Pu relative to the placing of Chekiang on the list of provinces into which Indian opium shall not be conveyed, together with copies of opium reports received from His Majesty's consulates at Ningpo and Hangchow.
The reports show on missionary evidence that a large measure of success appears to have attended the efforts to suppress the import and cultivation of native opium, but they do not conclusively bear out the contention of the Wai-chiao Pu that the province had absolutely cleared itself of native opium, notably in the Wenchow districts. In my despatch of the 27th June last, I stated also that His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai had reported on the 12th June that the new season of Chekiang opium was then on market.
I have informed the Wai-chiao Pu that I am unable to place Chekiang on the prohibition list forthwith, but am ready, in accordance with article 4 of the 1911 Agreement, to arrange for a joint inspection of the conditions of opium cultivation and importation next spring on the lines of the joint inspections carried out in Shantung, Anhui and Hunan this year.
I have, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 5.
Wai-chiao Pu to Mr. Alston,
B. ALSTON.
WITH reference to the prohibition of Indian opium into the provinces of Fukien and Chekiang, the Wai-chiao Pu had the honour to receive during last month on more than one occasion memos stating that the British consuls in those provinces had been instructed to send up reports on the subject, and that on their receipt a reply would be sent to the Ministry.
At the time the Wai-chiao Pu telegraphed to the Tutus, Civil Governors, and various anti-opium associations, and have since received enquiries (as to the progress of negotiations) from the said Tutus and Civil Governors. A letter has further been received from the General Anti-Opium Association of Fukien (literally, association for the removal of the poison) declaring that complete success has been attained as regards the prohibition of cultivation in the province, and that this has been recognised by the British consul at Amoy, who has reported in this sense to the British Government. The association beseeches the Ministry to request the British Minister at Peking to prohibit the import of Indian opium into Fukien, in order that the agreement between the two countries may be complied with, and sends to the Ministry a copy of the reply received from the British consul at Amoy.
The Wai-chiao Pu has the honour to observe that the British consuls in Fukion and Chekiang have investigated the conditions in those provinces, and reckons that by this time replies must have been received (at His Majesty's Legation). It has the honour to enclose copy of the reply of His Majesty's consul at Amoy for Mr. Alston's perusal, and to request him to reply at an early date, as well as to consent to the prohibition of import of Indian opium into the two provinces in order to strengthen friendly feeling.
(Seal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.).
July 7, 1913.
Enclosure 2 in No. 5.
Consul Little to General Anti-Opium Association of Fukien.
(Translation.) Gentlemen.
Amoy, July 7, 1913. I BEG to acknowledge receipt of your letter informing me that energetic progress has been made in the prohibition of poppy cultivation in Fukien, and that
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