1.
8616)
Sir:-
PEKING.
NEC
43252
*Prs 23 NOV OF.
September 30th, 1906.
214
I have the honour to transmit to you herewith in
translation copy of an Imperial Decree ordering the
complete removal of all the evils connected with opium
smoking within a period of ten years and giving in-
structions for the framing of such Regulations as may
be considered necessary to ensure the total prohibi-
tion of the cultivation and consumption of the drug.
The promulgation of this drastic announcement is
due, I understand, largely to the initiative of His
Excellency Tong Shoa-yi who seems to have been much
impressed by the views he heard expressed on the sub-
Ject during his recent visit to India. From conversa-
tions which he had with Mr. Baker, the Financial Se-
and other members of the Government of India,
His Excellency came to the conclusion that India was
cretary,
prepared to dispense with the opium revenue, and on
his return to China he informed his own Government
Right Honourable
Sir E. Grey, Bart., M.P.,
that
&c., &c., &c.,
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