6
sively as ever. A perusal of the missionary reports from Shansi shows that little or nothing is being done to enforce the Imperial Regulations, while more land than ever is being devoted to poppy cultivation.
Wuhu.
His Majesty's Consul reports that he is informed from certain portions of his district that so far the local officials have done absolutely nothing to give effect to the Imperial Edict; that there has been no reduction in the area under opium cultivation; and that the number of opium dens in the district in question is steadily increasing. Morphia is being imported in large quantities and is very generally used, the so-called anti-opium medicines being largely composed of that drug. It is doubtful whether the Taotai at Wuhu will take any active measures in support of the Imperial Edict, as he is afraid of provoking a riot which he has not any adequate force to quell.
Mukden.
His Majesty's Consul-General reports that orders with regard to the closing of opium-smoking saloons by the 26th May seem to have been universally obeyed. Both in Mukden and other towns all these places have ceased business.
The provisions with regard to the licensing of smokers in their own houses have not been carried out. This is of course a much more difficult matter, and has been every- where shirked up to the present time. The Governor-General and Governor have put out a Proclamation in simple language exhorting the people to give up the babit, and stating that the licensing system will soon be put into force.
Shops for the sale of opium are still allowed freely to sell the raw drug. It is an casy matter for smokers to prepare the opium paste from this in their own houses.
Opium is being grown in the same quantity as usual in Manchuria this year.
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 298
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[30046]
No. 1.
Foreign Office to China Association.
35258
RECO [September 14.1.
OCT 07
SECTION 2.
Sir,
Foreign Office, September 14, 1907. ON the 23rd ultimo a letter was addressed to you from this Office relative to the alleged project for creating an opium monopoly at Nanking.
I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to inform you that, having learnt that a Proclamation had been issued by the Viceroy establishing a monopoly from the 8th instant, a telegram was addressed to His Majesty's Minister as Peking on the subject.
Sir J. Jordan had addressed a protest to the Wai-wu Pu on the 19th ultimo against the establishment of such a monopoly, and at an interview on the 27th of that month the Ministers, while arguing that a Government monopoly of prepared opium would be essential for the success of their prohibitive measures, agreed to postpone action pending further exchange of views on the whole question.
His Majesty's Consul at Nanking has now reported to Sir J. Jordan the issue of a Proclamation by the Opium Monopoly Bureau, postponing the whole scheme pending the issue of negotiations between His Majesty's Minister and the Wai-wu Pu.
I have, &c. (Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.
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