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consequently exempted from customs examination. Since the departure from Hupeh of the former Tuchun, Wang Chan-yuan, in consequence of the recent revolt in that province, it has come to light, according to the statements of the correspondent of the North China Daily News," who derives bis information from Wu-pei-fu himself, that these shiploads of opium were imported by the late Tuchun in return for consignments of arms and equipment supplied by him to the Szechuan leaders, who have since attempted to invade the province. While the truth of this allegation, though probably correct, cannot be absolutely affirmed, the fact that such a story can be published now days without evoking surprise is sufficient to indicate the gulf which exists between I would add the actual state of affairs and the picture drawn by the Chinese Minister. that the attempt of Dr. Koo and the delegate on the advisory committee to ride off on the smuggling issue is thoroughly disingenious, as the evil of cultivation and internal traffic is at the present time out of all propertion to the illicit importation of the foreign product, though it is true that the smuggling of narcotic drugs, such as morphia, tivāls
in its evil effects.
I have thought it my duty to draw your Lordship's attention to the obvious effort which is being made to divert the attention of the League of Nations from the opium accord with the view expressed some time ago situation in China, as I am of opinion, by Sir John Jordan, that the prestige of the League furnishes at the present time the most effective lever available for inducing this country to check the retrograde move. ment which is proceeding at present with such dire results, and that an opportunity will be lost if that body allows itself to be lulled into inactivity over this question by the spacious phrases of Chinese apologists.
I have, &c.
B. ALSTON,
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reports would show that these allegations must be due either to faulty transmission of information or to rumours being spread by other troops.
The opium evil has fallen heavily upon this country, but it is a matter for gratification that the minds of the people are awake to the situation. We also enjoy the benefit of your country's whole-hearted support in the work of freeing ourselves from this evil. In spite of the many national difficulties which in recent years have rendered it impossible for preventive vigilance to take complete effect, all from the President down to the officials and the people generally detest the drug, and are daily fighting bitterly for its eradication, that the country may be swept clean of the reproach. Although there are differences between the reports sent in by the high military and civil officials of the various provinces and territories in the conditions which are described, these high officials all agree in taking upon themselves the responsibility for opium suppression. To say that the surface of things conceals some circumstances which have prevented the successful carrying out of this policy may be not altogether falee, but it would hardly be true to the facts to accuse the officials of looking with favour on the poisonous article or of aiming at frustrating the work of opium suppression as a whole.
My duty as Minister for Foreign Affairs obliges me to do all I can in protection of treaty obligations, and it is with feelings alive to the onus of such a position that I offer to your Excellency the assurance of my purpose so to act.
I have the honour to enclose for your Excellency's information and for communiça- tion to His Majesty's Government an abstract of the replies on the opium question* which have been received from the Military Governors and Civil Governors and Lieutenants-General, and avail, &c.
(Seal of the Wai-chiao Pu.}
Enclosure in No. 1.
(Translation.) Sir,
Wai-chiao Pu to Sir B. Alston.
September 7, 1921.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 28th June last, in which yon state that you had the honour to address me under instructions from your Government on the subject of the cultivation of, and traffic in, opium in this country.
Before the above note was received, his Excellency the President had promulgated a special mandate with warning in strong terms on the subject, and liad specially appointed commissioners to carry out investigations in different provinces. After the receipt of your note a report setting forth the facts was submitted to his Excellency, who instructed the Cabinet to communicate with the high authorities, military and civil, in all the provinces and administrative territories enjoining upon them the strict enforcement of the prohibition. At the same time separate communications were addressed to the various provinces and territories by this Ministry and the Ministry of the Interior in accordance with the points raised in your note, and calling for reports as to the ficts. With single exception of the province of Sukiang, which is particularly remote, and from which no reply has yet been received (but regarding which telegrams have been received from military governor Yang, and their sense communicated to your Excellency in this Ministry's letters of the 17th February, the 3rd May and the 2nd July of this year), the various replies have now successively come to hand and been subjected to consideration by this Ministry.
The general tenor of these replies is to the effect that opium suppression is an important part of the administration of government, and is being prosecuted with the exertion of every effort. In the various more out of the way regions throughout the It may country, however, surreptitious cultivation of opium does occasionally occur. be that stress of calamity may be made a pretext for relaxing the prohibition, the people knowing no better may falsely employ the names of military persons to cover their actions; or military persons may use shortness of funds for the payment of troops as a pretext; or complete prevention and suppression of opium dealings may impossible owing to the part of the country concerned having been previously under the sway of other troops. In all cases, however, poppy is uprooted on discovery, officials are even dismissed and soldiers and people fined or otherwise punished. As regards the allegations of poppy cultivation in Shensi with the levy of a tax and of the cultivation being permitted in Jehol on the payment of 6 dollars per mou, the
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