CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903 — Page 245

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to Treaty regulation, and I have therefore the honour to request your Excellent telegraph without delay to the Governor of Kiangsi requesting him to abolish it.

I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES SCOP

Inclosure 3 in No. 1.

Petition from Kan-chou Fu Opium Merchants.

NA TRADE.

TIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

SECTION 1.

241

Cul-General Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.~(Received July 30.)

20.) Lord,

Canton, June 27, 1903.

I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of my despatch No. 21 of the instant to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking, reporting the establishment the provincial authorities at Kiangsi of a new opium li-kin station at Kan-chou Fu,

SEVERAL firms of Kan-chou (Kiangsi), raw opium merchants, petition angsi, for the collection of a new tax on opium passing into that province from cerning a breach of Treaty by an increase in the opium tax, and beg the Coen, to which, in order to evade the terms of the London Convention of 1885, the General to send a telegram with a view to abolishing the tax, and thus reliese officials give the name of "prepared opium tax." traders in their difficulty.

We, the petitioners, have been dealing in opium at Kan-chou city, in Kis All of it came via the North River, in Kuang-tung Province, to its destination. U the present all has gone on quietly, and there has been no difficulty. No "wei-yüan" has come to Kan-chou, with orders from his superiors to collect a lev foreign opium at the rate of 1 K'u-p'ing silver tael on every tael ounces of opium. title "Subscription on Prepared Opium" would be appropriate, but for the fact th Kan-chou there are no prepared opium shops, and therefore it is really a ta prepared opium.

is

I

21.)

I have, &c. (Signed) JAMES SCOTT.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Consul-General Scott to Mr. Townley.

Canton, June 24, 1903. By the Convention of Chefoo of the 13th day of September, 1876, " opium BEG to inclose copy and translation of a red note which I recently addressed to from any further tax or duty whilst in transport in the interior, provided the Excellency the Viceroy at this port, together with copy and translation of a packages have not been opened, and that the Customs seals, marks, and numbetion from certain opium merchants complaining of the establishment by the incial authorities of Kiangsi of a new opium li-kin station at Kan-chou Fu, in the packages have not been effaced or tampered with.

si, near the northern end of the Mei-ling Pass, in Kuang-tung.

Now, as this method of taxing at Kan-chou is on packages that have not yet opened, it is evidently a new tax, and contrary to Treaty; and so we have to together to beg you to help us in our need, and to telegraph soon to the K Governor to countermand the whole levy, and so reassure merchants, which will good and fitting action.

We are, &c.

It would appear that a considerable quantity of opium finds its way from Canton to the provinces adjoining Kuang-tung on the north, traversing the main route gh the well-known Mei-ling Pass. Hitherto, opium duly sealed and stamped has allowed to circulate without further tax while the packages were unopened ng from province to province. But the Kiangsi authorities would now appear to

(Signed) (Certain Opium Merchants in Kian devised a new tax styled the "prepared opium charge," and have appointed an

er at Kan-chou to collect the same. I have made careful inquiries, and find that are are no boiling establishments whatever at Kan-chou; and that this place is ted solely for its convenience in seizing and dealing with opium as it leaves

g-tung.

So far I have had no reply from the Viceroy beyond a formal acknowledgment of etter, informing me that he had communicated with the Governor of Kiangsi by raph as requested.

Under the circumstances, I beg to lay the whole facts before you for such action as may consider necessary, only adding that I see no hope of the Kiangsi Government

ing a lavourable reply to my representations through the Canton Viceroy,

I have, &c. (Signed)

JAMES SCOTT.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Consul-General Scott to Viceroy.

Canton, June 17, 1903.

EG to call your Excellency's attention to the fact that a Chinese official has plished himself at Kan-chou Fu, in Kiangsi, on the borders of Kuang-tung is there levying an impost on foreign opium under the designation of tax" ("kao-chuan”).

reign opium that reaches Kan-chou comes from Canton, and there are shments at the place. Clearly, therefore, this new impost is contrary