North-China Daily News, Shanghai 7th September.1929.
Opium on the Yangtze
40
The recent case at Kiukiang of the tide-waiter Anderson, who
was accused of takin; a bribe to pass smuggled opium and, after a very irregular trial, was heavily sentenced, directs a ttention to the traffic in opium along the Yangtze. Several reports have reached us on this subject through the Shipping companies, and it is not too much to say that the trade is quite open and apparently quite uncontrollable. Foreign shipmasters have practically given up trying to prevent opiu
being put aboard their vessels: it is too dangerous. An enquiry was recently made by one shipping firm from consular quarters as to the
instructions given to its Officers in respect of the transport of opium. The answer was that the company's officers were strictly
ordered to carry no opiw, but if the e xecution of this order appeared
of likely to involve the use/force, the instructions were that officers
were to act only under the authority and with the cooperation of the
consul. Here is a recent extract from the log of one river ship,
which illustrates the condition of things. It may be said that there
is no direct evidence that the packages mentioned contained opium,
but in all circu stances there can be little doubt that they were:
Hankow. Time and Date. Several sampans with uniformed armed guards seen passing goods on board - presumably opiun. Customs officer was notified and stated he had seen nothing went to investigate and failed to re-appear. Ship left pontoon and was hove to but as no further steps were taken by Customs, proceeded on voyæe.
-
none
Kiukiang. Customs searched ship for contraband reported found. Officer in charge of party notified of existence of opium on board before search began.
None found.
ed found.
Vicinity of northeast crossing. Ship searched for contraband.
Chinkiang. Customs searched ship for contraband. None report-
Hankow-Shanghai. Packages, presumably opium, were observed to be discharged overboard to sampans etc. at the following points on the voyage down river:- Hunter Island, three packages, Teikong Station, one package etc. etc.
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