[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
C
erniment 205
43659
11299 DEC 07
[37971]
No. 1.
RES IRC 30 MAR 08
(No. 476.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received November 18.)
Peking, October 3, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 393 of the 20th August last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a further Memorandum, compiled by Mr. Garnett, on the measures which are being taken in the provinces to enforce the Imperial Edict enjoining the suppression of the opium habit,
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum by Mr. Garnett on the Measures which are being taken for the Suppression of the Opium Habit,
1. Chefoo.
THE Imperial Decree forbidding the use of opium was communicated by the Grand Council to the Governor of Shantung on the 1st December, 1906, and reached the Taotai of Chefoo on the 31st December. On the 16th January, 1907, it was forwarded to the Chefoo Chamber of Commerce, who published a notification embodying a brief summary of ten Articles, which is said to have been distributed broadcast over the whole Prefecture.
On the 8th May it was followed by another Proclamation by the Taotai, which, while calling attention to the Imperial Decree, stated that the measures to be adopted for the restriction of the sale and consumption of opium would come into operation on the 9th August. According to the 4th Article of the Imperial Decree, it was originally intended that all opium dens should be closed within a period of six months from the date of the promulgation of the Decree, which would have fixed the time for the 4th moon, i.e., May-June. The provincial authorities, however, seem to have been given discretionary powers in the matter, and the Governor of Shantung, being apparently of opinion that the interval of grace was too brief to allow of the keepers of these establishments finding other occupation, he decided to extend it for a period of two months, and hence the enforcement of the measure only came into effect on the 9th August.
The sale of all paraphernalia for the use of opium smokers was also forbidden in the Proclamation referred to, and the keepers of restaurants were enjoined not only to discontinue supplying their customers with the drug, but to prevent those resorting to their establishments taking their own pipes with them and smoking them on the premises.
On the 4th June the Taotai also instructed the Chambers of Commerce to make inquiries and ascertain the number of shops for the sale of raw opium, and the quantity annually sold and the amount exported. It appears that three special Deputies were also appointed by the Governor, one of whom was to co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce in making these investigations, while the other two were directed to make inquiries as to the area under poppy cultivation.
The result of the investigations by the Chamber of Commerce was that they reported seventy-eight shops as being engaged in the opium trade. They stated, however, that, owing to the difficulty in obtaining information, this figure might prove incorrect, and might have to be altered. According to the report of the two Deputies regarding the area under cultivation of the ten hsien of which Teng Chu Fu consists, Lai Yang Hsien produces the greatest amount of opium, the area under cultivation being some 1,600 mou, equivalent to about 260 acres English. In Hai Yang Hsien there were about 200 mou (33 English acres),
[2724 s-1]
......
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
C
erniment 205
43659
11299 DEC 07
[37971]
No. 1.
RES IRC 30 MAR 08
(No. 476.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received November 18.)
Peking, October 3, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 393 of the 20th August last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a further Memorandum, compiled by Mr. Garnett, on the measures which are being taken in the provinces to enforce the Imperial Edict enjoining the suppression of the opium habit,
I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum by Mr. Garnett on the Measures which are being taken for the Suppression of the Opium Habit,
1. Chefoo.
THE Imperial Decree forbidding the use of opium was communicated by the Grand Council to the Governor of Shantung on the 1st December, 1906, and reached the Taotai of Chefoo on the 81st December, On the 16th January, 1907, it was forwarded to the Chefoo Chamber of Commerce, who published a notification embodying a brief summary of ten Articles, which is said to have been distributed broadcast over the whole Prefecture.
On the 8th May it was followed by another Proclamation by the Taotsi, which, while calling attention to the Imperial Decree, stated that the measures to be adopted for the restriction of the sale and consumption of opium would come into operation on the 9th August. According to 4th Article of the Imperial Decree, it was originally intended that all opium dens should be closed within a period of six months from the date of the promulgation of the Decree, which would have fixed the time for the 4th moon, L., May-June. The provincial authorities, however, seem to have been given discretionary powers in the matter, and the Governor of Shantung, being apparently of opinion that the interval of grace was too brief to allow of the keepers of these establishments finding other occupation, he decided to extend it for a period of two months, and hence the enforcement of the measure only came into effect on the 9th August.
The sale of all paraphernalia for the use of opium smokers was also forbidden in the Proclamation referred to, and the keepers of restaurants were enjoined not only to discontinue supplying their customers with the drug, but to prevent those resorting to their establishments taking their own pipes with them and smoking them on the premises.
On the 4th June the Taotai also instructed the Chambers of Commerce to make inquiries and ascertain the number of shops for the sale of raw opium, and the quantity annually sold and the amount exported. It appears that three special Deputies were also appointed by the Governor, one of whom was to co-operate with the Chamber of Commerce in making these investigations, while the other two were directed to make The result of the investigations inquiries as to the area under poppy cultivation.
by the Chamber of Commerce was that they reported seventy-eight shops as being engaged in the opium trade. They stated, however, that, owing to the difficulty in obtaining information, this figure might prove incorrect, and might have to be altered. According to the report of the two Deputies regarding the area under cultivation of the ten hsien of which Teng Chu Fu consists, Lai Yang Hsien produces the greatest amount of opium, the area under cultivation being some 1,600 mou, equivalent to about 260 acres English. In Hai Yang Hsien there were about 200 mon (33 English acres),
[2724 s-1]
B
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