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"It is greatly to be regretted that police investigation shows almost conclusively that practically all of the opium smuggled into Shanghai has been procured as a result of the assistance or with the connivance of the Chinese Authorities, and has generally been conveyed or escorted by Chinese officials, of the Army, the Navy, Salt Smuggling Prevention Corps, or of the Chekiang River Police and that campaigns against the traffic in opium have elicited little or no assistance from the Chinese authorities."
SHANGHAI NARCOTIC DRUGS
Customs seizures during 1925 were 6574 ounces:
Heroin Morphia Cocaine
538 ounces 4301 1735
If
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Of this 740 ounces came from Japan and 5834 ounces from Europe, principally Germany.
If we add to this two big seizures of 8536 ounces of morphia and heroin from Germany made during the March Quarter of 1926, the total reaches 14,375 ounces. Of this amount 14,083 ounces arrived unlabelled as to origin or manufacturer.
As with opium so with drugs, Shanghai is the largest centre of distribution.
KUANGTUNG
The condition of this province with Canton as its capital has been such that it has been extremely difficult to get individual reports from: missionaries, many of whom have had to leave their stations during the past year. However, reports from several branches give a general idea of the province.
Opium is not extensively cultivated, and that only in the north east where the land is of the same character as southern Fukien which produces the best quality in China. Where it is planted, it is by military orders.
As will be seen by the letter of Dr. C. C. Wu, opium is only approved by the government for the purpose of raising funds.
Several of the Canton leaders and members of the family of the late Dr. Sun establishe! their branch of the International Anti-Opiun As- sciation several years ago, but latterly under communistic demands every attempt at reform has been jettisoned.
Under the previous regime of the ex-Viceroy Tsen, opium and gambling were strictly prohibited and punishable with heavy sentences. Under the present rulers opium is bought and sold in daylight. An opium merchant must pay $5,000 to open his store, and 80% surtax is charged on every ounce of opium. Opium Suppression Bureaux established everywhere and the revenue from opium, gambling and brothels is estimated at $2,000,000 monthly.
are
Under present financial stringency, the Canton Government has planned to raise 20 to $30,000,000 from opium and gambling. The monopoly is divided into two sections, Administration and Distribution. The Administration section is subdivided into naval and land officers. The Naval office is responsible for the transport of Yunnan opium by sea, and the land office by river and overland from both Yunnan and
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Kweichow. Purchasing offices are established in Peh She and Nanning in Yunnan, and at Chang An and Ma Ping in Kweichow.
The Distribution office has branches at Fo Shan, Kiangen, Shihlung, Shaokuang, Chaochung, Yangkiang, Maochao, Haikang, Hopu, Chinhsien, Liangshan, Hweiyang, Tenghai, Weihsien and other market towns. It is estimated that more than $10,000,000 can be raised from opium.
The province is abundantly supplied in the Centre, South and West with opium from Kueichow. In West Kuangtung this is sold at $2.30 an ounce, and because of its cheapness local farmers do not plant poppy. In the North and East the opium comes from Fukien. Many of the Canton river steamers are exclusively employed by the military in the transit of opium.
From a city south of Canton comes the statement, every town and market is full of opium dens, and opium is used in abundance. In small towns I have always to wait until the chair coolies have smoked their 15 or 20 cents worth of opium. Gambling, opium smoking and vice dens have the majority of the people in this town in their power.
The following petition was sent in January 1926 by the China Medical Association in Canton to Dr. C. C. Wu, Chief Commissioner of Canton Municipality:
"In view of the recrudescence in the Province of Kuangtung of the baneful habit of Opium Smoking, a question of deep concern all over China at the present time, as at the League of Nations, Geneva more widely, we, the members of the South China Branch of the China Medical Association in regular session at the Canton Hospital do hereby earnestly urge our Canton Authorities, through you, to use their best endeavours to the early abolition of this tearful curse, in which behalf we would gladly lend our aid."
Dr. C. C. Wu replied;
"Dear Sir:
I am in receipt of your letter of the 20th January, enclosing copy of a resolution passed by the South China Branch of the China Medical Association with regard to opium smoking.
None realize better than the authorities the penicious effects of opium smoking. The recrudescence in the province of the habit is one of the things for which the militarists who governed, or rather misgoverned, Kuangtung in the past have to be responsible. Its eradication is a complex problem which affects the political and economic, as well as the social conditions of the province. You may rest assured that the Government is anxious to see, and will make every effort for, its abolition as early as possible. Your offer of assistance is appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) Chao-chu Wu Chief Commissioner of Canton Municipality."
KWEICHOW
In common with other provinces, reports have not been numerous owing to disturbed conditions and postal difficulties, yet on the whole the evidence points to decreased cultivation. This does not mean that the province has in any sense changed its long known reputation of
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