46
destroyed, and Mr. Consul Kirke suggested that its destruction at Wuchow should be insisted on, as he could then witness the proceedings. Sir John Jordan accordingly took the opportunity of an interview at the Wai-chiao Pu to bring the matter to the notice of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who promised that instructions in this sense should be sent to the Governor. The latter, however, continued to insist that the opium should be sent to Nanning, and, in spite of further representations based on the 1911 agreement, and urged both locally and at Peking, the consignment was eventually shipped to the provincial capital on the 18th September.
It only remained therefore to press for its destruction at Nanning, and, at Sir John Jordan's request, the Wai-chiao Pu promised to send telegraphic orders to this effect. At the same time His Majesty's consul was instructed to secure an account of the proceedings from a reliable source. This he did, and his description shows that the so-called opium burning was nothing but an elaborate farce which deceived nobody. In the meantime the official traffic in the drug continues unabated, and a Government patrol-boat is even used for its conveyance to Wuchow.
Before he left Peking Sir John Jordan took occasion to speak very strongly to the President's private secretary about the province's conduct in the matter of opium, and be requested that his remarks should be conveyed to the President, with the intimation that the whole matter would be reported to His Majesty's Government and the Government of India.
The Opium Agreement of 1911 provides for the total extinction of the trade by the end of 1917. There are indications that the Chinese Government is uneasy as to what is going to happen at the expiration of the stipulated period. and a
National Opium Prohibition Conference has been meeting daily in Peking since the 10th instant to devise immediate measures for the suppression of the evil. It is hoped therefore that the representations that have been made, as reported above in connection with the Kuangsi incident, will strengthen the hands of the Central Government in dealing with the recalcitrant provinces,
No. 25.
Mr. Balfour to Mr. Alston.
(Telegraphic.)
Sir,
I have, &c.
B. ALSTON.
Foreign Office. February 23, 1917. YOU may assent to joint inspection of six remaining provinces.
No. 26.
Mr. Alston to Mr. Balfour.-(Received March 15.)
Peking, January 24, 1917. WITH reference to Sir John Jordan's despatch of the 13th September last on the subject of opium, I have the honour to forward herewith translation of a note which I have received from the Wai-chiao Pu, informing me that it is proposed to bold a joint inspection of the provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, Kwangtung, Shensi, Yunnan, and Kweichow.
I had the honour to telegraph on the 22nd instant requesting instructions as to the reply which should be made to this note. In Sir John Jordan's despatch referred to, it was contemplated that the provinces of Kiangsu and Kiangsi, and later Kwang- tung, would be carefully examined, and that the remaining unclosed provinces would be closed without examination, but I have had no recent indication of the wishes of the Indian Government in the matter.
I have, &c.
B. ALSTON.
47
Enclosure in No. 26.
Wai-chiao Pu to Mr. Alston.
Sir,
Peking, January 19, 1917. AS in accordance with the original Anglo-Chinese arrangement for the yearly reduction of the import of Indian opium, the amount was decreased in 1911 to 30,600 chests, and was subsequently further reduced every year by 5,100 chests, the import has now in the present year been extinguished, and no more Indian opium should come to China,
The cultivation of opium in China itself has also been decreased in proportion to the reduction of import, and at the end of last year reports were received from Kiangsu, Kiangsi, Kwangtung, Shensi, Yunnan and Kweichow stating that the planting of the poppy had been completely suppressed in those six provinces.
It is now my intention, in order to make known the success achieved by China in the matter of opium prohibition, to request your Excellency to depute officers to proceed to the said provinces and to examine them in company with deputies to be appointed by this Government, so that the matter may be placed beyond doubt.
When the dates for the joint investigations have been fixed in consultation with the provinces concerned, I shall have the honour to address your Excellency a further despatch, and in the meantime I shall be glad to have the favour of a reply.
(Seal of Wai-chião Pu.)
No. 27.
Mr. Alston to Mr. Balfour-(Received July 7.)
Sir,
Peking, March 13, 1917. WITH reference to my despatch of the 24th January and your telegram 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, Yunnan, and Kueichow should Le jointly inspected for opium cultivation. 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 set out in my notes to the Wai-chiao 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 Yunnan: Mr. B. Tours, C.M.G., His Majesty's consul,
Ichang.
Western Yunnan Mr. A. E. Eastes, acting consul, Tengyuch.
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 Yunnan en route, and so secule
a more thorough investigation of a province where recent reports would indicate that
a certain amount of opium cultivation is to be found.
I have not, so far, received a reply from the Wai-chiao Pu to my notes, nor have I yet been informed of the names of the delegates appointed by the Chinese Govern- ment, but it has been arranged verbally that, as regards the distant provinces of Kuangtung. Yunnan, and Kueichow, the Governors concerned shall be instructed to make the necessary arrangements in consultation with His Majesty's consuls at Swalow, Yunnan and Chungking, and I have received a telegram from Swatow
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