515
(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[2703]
No. 1.
7
[January 25.
RECH SECTION02 Eb 08
ง
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received January 25, 1908.)
(No. 569.) Sir,
Peking, December 7, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 384 of the 14th August last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a note from the Wai-wu Pu, containing their reply to the counter-proposals of His Majesty's Government on the opium question, the substance of which was communicated to you in my telegram No. 211 of the 4th instant.
The Chinese Government assent to the proposal of His Majesty's Government for a progressive diminution in the export of opium from India for a period of three years from the 1st January, 1908, on the understanding that if during this period the Chinese Government shall have duly carried out the arrangements on their part for reducing the production and consumption of opium in China, His Majesty's Government undertake to continue in the same proportion the annual diminution of the export after the expiration of the three years' period of trial. The Board, however, point out that the total average import of Indian opium into China during the years 1901-5 inclusive was, according to the Customs returns, not 51,000 chests as given by us, but only 42,327 chests of 120 catties each, and they request that the proportion annually diminished may be based upon the latter figure.
The import of Persian and other foreign opium will, they add, be correspondingly diminished.
As regards the dispatch of an officer to India to watch the opium sales, the Chinese Government accept the condition prescribed by His Majesty's Government, viz., that the officer so appointed shall have no power of interference.
Their proposal to double the duty and li-kin charges was, they explain, made merely with the view of restricting the use of the drug, and not for revenue purposes.
The three points on which His Majesty's Government have been asked for information in connection with this proposal cannot be fully determined at short notice, and the Board therefore propose to postpone the levy of the double duty and to reserve the question for future discussion.
The Board agreed to the proposal of His Majesty's Government for the prohibition of import and export of prepared opium between Hong Kong and China, and in pursuance of the understanding that each Government should take measures to prevent smuggling into its own territories, they intimate that Regulations are being drawn up to prevent the smuggling of boiled opium in China.
Under the fifth heading His Majesty's Government agreed that, if effective steps have been taken by the Chinese authorities for the prohibition of opium shops, &c., outside the limits of foreign Settlements or Concessions, the municipal authorities of these localities should also take effective steps on their own initiative before being approached by the Chinese authorities on the subject.
This declaration the Board accept as evidence of the intention of His Majesty's Government to accord the fullest measure of support to the efforts of the Chinese Government, and they then proceed to state the steps which they have themselves taken for the suppression of opium beyond the limits of Settlements and Concessions.
With regard to the prohibition of the importation of morphia and instruments for its injection, the Wai-wu Pu state that they have secured the co-operation of all the Powers with the exception of Japan, whose reply will be communicated as soon as it is received.
In conclusion, the Board affirm that it is their earnest hope, with the assistance of Great Britain, to effect the complete eradication of the opium habit, and they hold it to be their duty to send still more stringent instructions to the local authorities for the energetic enforcement of the prohibitive measures.
[2813 bb−2].
515
(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[2703]
No. 1.
7
[January 25.
RECH SECTION02 Eb 08
ง
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received January 25, 1908.)
(No. 569.) Sir,
Peking, December 7, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 384 of the 14th August last, I bave the honour to transmit te you herewith copy of a note from the Wai-wa Pu, containing their reply to the counter-proposals of His Majesty's Government on the opium question, the substance of which was communicated to you in my telegram No. 211 of the 4th instant.
The Chinese Government assent to the proposal of His Majesty's Government for a progressive diminution in the export of opium from India for a period of three years from the 1st January, 1908, on the understanding that if during this period the Chinese Government shall have duly carried out the arrangements on their part for reducing the production and consumption of opium in China, His Majesty's Government undertake to continue in the same proportion the annual diminution of the export after the expiration of the three years' period of trial. The Board, however, point out that the total average import of Indian opium into China during the years 1901-5 inclusive was, according to the Customs returns, not 51,000 chosts as given by us, but only 42,327 chests of 120 catties each, and they request that the proportion annually diminished may be based upon the latter figure.
The import of Persian and other foreign opium will, they add, be correspondingly diminished.
As regards the dispatch of an officer to India to watch the opium sales, the Chinese Government accept the condition prescribed by His Majesty's Government, viz., that the officer so appointed shall have no power of interference.
Their proposal to double the duty and li-kin charges was, they explain, made merely with the view of restricting the use of the drug, and not for revenue purposes.
The three points on which His Majesty's Government have been asked for information in connection with this proposal cannot be fully determined at short notice, and the Board therefore propose to postpone the levy of the double duty and to reserve the question for futura discussion.
The Board agreed to the proposal of His Majesty's Government for the prohibition of import and export of prepared opium between Hong Kong and China, and in pursuance of the understanding that each Government should take measures to prevent smuggling into its own territories, they intimate that Regulations are being drawn up to prevent the smuggling of boiled opium in China,
Under the fifth heading His Majesty's Government agreed that, if effective steps have been taken by the Chinese authorities for the prohibition of opium shops, &c., outside the limits of foreign Settlements or Concessions, the municipal authorities of these localities should also take effective steps on their own initiative before being approached by the Chinese authorities on the subject.
This declaration the Board accept as evidence of the intention of His Majesty's Government to accord the fullest measure of support to the efforts of the Chinese Government, and they then proceed to state the steps which they have themselves taken for the suppression of opium beyond the limits of Settlements and Concessions.
With regard to the prohibition of the importation of morphia and instruments for its injection, the Wai-wn Pu state that they have secured the co-operation of all the Powers with the exception of Japan, whose reply will be communicated as soon as it is received.
In conclusion, the Board affirm that it is their earnest hope, with the assistance of Great Britain, to effect the complete eradication of the opium habit, and they hold it to be their duty to send still more stringent instructions to the local authorities for the energetic enforcement of the prohibitive measures.
[2813 bb−2].
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