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the discovery of smuggled Opium, is one that may lead to abuses, and probably does; but there is no actual system of adjudicating the fine; at present the matter is left entirely to the discretion of the Chief of Customs, who I imagine has the idea that he is being very lenient in compromising a case at all; in a late case he expressed himself much to that effect, but he knows perfectly well that he would never dare to use the power conferred upon him by Art. 10 page 25.
Captains, I am aware, probably owners also, consider the German and British Consuls more or less indifferent about these opium cases; it is not indifference at all, but rather the knowledge that there is absolutely nothing to be done, but to pay the smallest possible amount; we have not ceased for about a dozen years, searching for some means of relief from the very unfair dealing accorded foreign shipmasters, but have not been successful and do not expect to be.
Your enclosures are not exact in their statements, and this fact lessens their force and value: thus, "the rewards offered are so large (about 40 times the value of the drug)" - the value of a tael of Opium is $2.56: the fine (reduced) in a late seizure of 235 taels was $6,000, or $214 per tael, of which the informer's share was $1,250 - quite large enough certainly, but not so large as stated by about one half in the Merchant's letter; take the second paragraph.
Again I say that it has not been shown to have been planned and carried out in Saigon, but I will be extremely obliged to you or to anyone who will show me a single instance of it. I do not say that the opinion is not justified, but that is a long way from saying that the fact has been shown.
It
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the discovery of smuggled Opium, is one that may lead to abuses, and probably does; but there is no actual system of
adjudicating the fine at presents the matter is left entirely
to the discretion of the Chief of Customs, who I imagine has
the idea that he is being very lenient in compromising a case
at all; in a late case he expressed himself mich to that effect, but, he knows perfectly well that he would never dare
to use the power conferred upon him by Art. 10 page 25.
Captains I am aware, probably owners also, consider
the German and British Consuls more or less indifferent about.
these opium cases; it is not, indifference at all but rather the knowledge that there is absolutely nothing to be done, but to pay the smallest possible amount; we have not ceased for about a dozen years, searching for some means of relief from the very unfair dealing accorded foreign shipmasters,
but have not been successful and do not expect to be.
Your enclosures are not exact in their statements,
and this fact lessens their force and value: thus, "the rewards offered are so large (about 40 times the value of the drug) bc"- the value of a tael of Opium is $2.56: the fine (reduced) a late seizure of 235 taels was $6,000 $214 per tael, of which the informers share was $1,250 quite large enough cer- tainly, but not so large as stated by about one half
in the Merchants letter,take the second paragraph.
Again
I say that it has not been shown to have been plan- ned and carried out in Saigon, but I will be extremely obli-
ged to you or to any one who will show me a single instance
of it. I do not say that the opinion is not justified, but that. is a long way from saying that the fact has been shown.
It
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