CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6] — Page 499

have his attention drawn to the fact that the 5th para paph of his despatch has no

bearing

on the situation created wither by

the J. of S.'s Felegram

a by my

statement

behalf of bt. th. G. in the House of Commons The actual proposals made seem reasonable,

and a reduction in the military contribution

for

some years is certainly called for.

II. An entirely fresh situation with regard to the Opium question has been created by the Example of Japan, and the remarkable success of her policy. The Japanese are not fools, and when they attribute, as theple, no small measure of their superiority over the Chinese to their opisem legislation which results in probitition, reasonable men will think that they are probably right.

There is absolutely no resor.

no resemblance

between alcohol and opium in its

Effect upon a race, and to reason from

one to the other is therefore hotly mindendig.

丛

Thain to Manchester

August sihigot

Сирић

ONFIDENTIAL.

P

you

Hongkong.

21530

Conclosure...

•

My Lord,

496

Government House,

Hongkong, 13th. June, 1908.

25273

Re

15. 13 JUL 08

In continuation of my Despatch

Confidential of the 16th. ultimo relative to the closing

of Opium Divans, I have the honour to report to you as

follows. On May the 14th. I directed Mr. C. Clementi, the

Assistant Colonial Secretary, to investigate the books

which the Opium Farmer had with very commendable frankness,

and confidence in the fair-dealing of Government placed at

his disposal. The results of this enquiry are embodied in

report of which I attach a copy. Your Lordship will, I

am sure, concur with me that Mr. Clementi has conducted a

most difficult investigation, involving the close scrutiny

of an enormous number of books of accounts kept in Chinese

methods, with very exceptional ability. This Government is

in fact fortunate in having a Officer qualified to under-

-take such a task.

:63077-

W. & S. Ltd.-16879-6000-10-07.

1

-1979-6000--4-08.

Cornuction attacked)

(ع)

2.

DE RIGHT HONOURABLE

&c

&C...

From this report it transpires Maflinum monthly loss that can fall. that the total profit-on Opium sold to Divans by the

Farmer THE EARL OF CREWE, •

on the

Mare