CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 503

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the opium trade oving to the action of the Chinese Government in

closing up the public smoking dene, and im orterg, in view of the

further uncertainty of demand from those who would hold a monop-

oly, would curtail importation, which wuld mean a naturial re- duction of their purchases from the Government of India'1⁄2 monthly

calde.

we think, therefore, that it iɛ advisable to lay the matter

before you, so that immediate etøpe may be taken to stop the

regulatione being carried into effect, and we brugt that you will support we in protecting against thie propuned infringement of ar

Treaty rights.

In further support of our contention, we would beg to refer

you to the following :-

Article V of the British Treaty of Nankang 1042.

"The Government of China having compelled the British Mar-

chants trading at Canton to deal excluɛively with certain Chinese merchants called long Murchants (or co-Hong) who had

been licenced by the Chinese Goverment for this purpose,

the Emperor of China agrose to abolish that practice in - future at all porte where Brzlich merchants may reg100, and to permit tham to carry on their mercantile trancactio Me with whatever pergone they please, and Mic Imperial Müjde ty

further agrude to pay to the British Goverment the sum of

three millions of dullare, on account of debte dua to

British subjecte by some of the grid Hong Merchants or co- Hong

who have become ineolvent and who ove very large ewas

of money to subjoete of Her Britannic Majesty".

Article I of the game Treaty :-

-

"Hie Kajee ty the Emperor agrees to gtablish at all the

porte which are by Article 11 of this Treaty to be thrown

open for the resort of British Merchants, a fair and regular tariff of export and import customs and other dues, which

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