CONFIDENTIAL
356
44899
R 6 DEC 06
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 30, 9:30 P.M.)
(No. 232)
MY telegram No. 226.
Peking, November 30, 1906, 5:30 p.m.
Four Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu called yesterday, and handed to me a Memorandum which they had prepared, under Imperial instructions, with the view of enforcing the ten Articles of the Opium Regulations, and which is intended to serve as a basis for personal discussion of question.
The following is a summary of their proposals, for which they ask for the sympathetic consideration and for the approval of His Majesty's Government
1. Taking average import of Indian opium for the five years, 1901 to 1905, as the basis of calculation, the import to be diminished by one-tenth each year after 1907, pari passu, with similar decrease in the production of native drug.
2. Permission to station a Chinese official in Calcutta to watch the auction sales and packing of opium, and verify the actual amount delivered for export.
3. The duty and li-kin on foreign opium to be raised from 110 taels to 220 taels per picul.
In support of this request, Memorandum points out that the taxation of native opium, which formerly varied from 60 taels to 30 taels a picul, was recently increased to 115 taels; that the strength of foreign opium is double that of the native; and that unless the taxation of the former is raised the whole aim of the Regulations will be defeated.
The intention is purely to impose a prohibitive duty, not to obtain increased revenue.
4. The Government of Hong Kong to place a strict prohibition upon the boiling of opium for export to China, and the Government to be free to impose prohibitive duties upon any such prepared opium entering China.
5. His Majesty's Government is requested to take lead in seeing that in all foreign Settlements and Concessions in China the measures of inspection and prohibition in regard to opium shops, opium dens, restaurants, shops for sale of opium appliances, &c., shall be similar to those adopted by Chinese territorial authorities.
6. Most of Powers have given their adhesion to the eleventh Articles of British Treaty of 1902 respecting the prohibition of the import of morphia, and those who have not agreed are being pressed to do so.
His Majesty's Government is requested to agree to immediate enforcement.
[5.0 -205
CONFIDENTIAL
356
44899
R 6 DEC 06
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received November 30, 9:30 P.M.)
(No. 232)
MY telegram No. 226.
Peking, November 30, 1906, 5:30 p.m.
Four Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu called yesterday, and handed to me a Memo- randum which they had prepared, under Imperial instructions, with the view of enforcing the ten Articles of the Opium Regulations, and which is intended to serve as a basis for personal discussion of question.
The following is a summary of their proposals, for which they ask for the sym- pathetic consideration and for the approval of His Majesty's Government
1. Taking average import of Indian opium for the five years, 1901 to 1905, as the basis of calculation, the import to be diminished by one-tenth each year after 1907, pari passu, with similar decrease in the production of native drug.
2. Permission to station a Chinese official in Calcutta to watch the auction sales
and packing of opium, and verify the actual amount delivered for export.
3. The duty and li-kin on foreign opium to be raised from 110 taels to 220 taels
per picul.
In support of this request, Memorandum points out that the taxation of native opium, which formerly varied from 60 taels to 30 taels a picul, was recently increased to 115 taels; that the strength of foreign opium is double that of the native; and that unless the taxation of the former is raised the whole aim of the Regulations will be defeated.
The intention is purely to impose a prohibitive duty, not to obtain increased
revenue.
4. The Government of Hong Kong to place a strict prohibition upon the boiling of opirum for export to China, and the Governinent to be free to impose prohibitive duties upon any such prepared opium entering China.
5. His Majesty's Government is requested to take lead in seeing that in all foreign Settlements and Concessions in China the measures of inspection and prohibition in regard to opium shops, opin dens, restaurants, shops for sale of opium appliances, &c., shall be similar to those adopted by Chinese territorial authorities.
6. Most of Powers have given their adhesion to the eleventhArticles of British Treaty of 1902 respecting the prohibition of the import of morphia, and those who have not agreed are being pressed to do so.
His Majesty's Government is requested to agree to immediate enforcement.
[5.0 -205
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