CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 491

485

certain number of existing opium chope, which shope will, 82 time goes on, decrease in mumber by either :-

(a)

(b)

Retirement from businece.

geizure and closure by the Authoritize of the chops

for infringement or alleged infringement of the law, and

(c)

The purchase by capitalists of the shops and of the

licences.

In the courge of time, therefore, the sale of raw opium will be in the hende of a few, thus creating a monopoly.

We cannot agree, therefore, with the dictum of Hie Majesty's Winieter at Peking that he le doubtful that the Ragulatione, me they stand at present, can be regarded sɛ establishing a monopoly we contend that the Regulations, if carried into stringent effect, will form the nucleus of a monopoly expressly contrary to the Treaty of Bank ång -

We contend that the same must be eaid of Article 5 of the eleven Articles for carrying out the Prohibition of Opium ir it le brought into force in Chine :-

It reads as follows :-

*To closely inspect opium shope in order to facilitate "preventitive menzures. •

and which Article is further explained as follows :-

*All shope in any City, ton or village which sell the raw "drug or prepared opium must be severally inspected by the "local authorities who will draw up a list of them in the "form of a register and igeus to each a licence which will "constitute their permit to carry on this trade. Once the "inspection has been made no addition to the opium ɛhope *will be #llowod*.

It furthe“ måde :-

"Shope which from time to time drop out of the business *must surrender their licencée for cancellation.

-2-

The

P.1.0.