275
4
lead to the more rapid suppression of opium-smoking within the Settlement than is now contemplated. What action will finally prevail will depend upon the opinions expressed at this meeting by the ratepayers.
In compliance with your request I have the honour to return to you herewith Mr. Broomhall's pamphlet.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
PELHAM L. WARREN.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from Intelligence Report for December Quarter, 1907, in Chengtu, January 28, 1908.
The Anti-Opium Movement.-There is, I regret to say, but little progress to be reported in this direction. Such information as I have been able to obtain during the past three months will be included in a separate Report.
Missionary travellers inform me that in most places opium-smoking is indulged in, as heretofore, openly and without restriction. Beyond the taxing of the opium divans by the officials nothing has been done to regulate the traffic in the drug, and whatever reduction of the area under cultivation there may have been this autumn is not noticeable. In Chengtu the vigorous measures taken six months ago appear to have been almost entirely relaxed; the once clean and tidy official opium divans are relapsing into their former state of squalor, registration of opium smokers is not enforced, and the private preparation of the drug continues unchecked.
(No. 4.) Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Pearson to Sir J. Jordan.
Hangchow, February 3, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to inclose a Report on the progress of the anti-opium movement in this province during the past four months.
I have, &c. (Signed)
Q. W. PEARSON.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Report on the Progress of the Anti-Opium Movement in Chekiang Province. Hangchow--The provincial authorities show very little energy in support of the anti-opium movement throughout the province. The new Governor, Feng, has so far ignored the whole question, and his apathy in this direction is universally imitated by his subordinates.
The Anti-Opium Society of Hangchow was gradually dying a natural death through lack of enthusiasm and funds, when in November Taotai Wang, head of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, called a meeting of the gentry and asked for subscriptions to revive the Society. Little was forthcoming, the officials and their subscriptions being conspicuously absent. It was decided to relinquish the comparatively large buildings then occupied by the Society, and to lease smaller premises and curtail operations. Some dozen men of no standing or reputation have been attached to the Society as agents, but their investigations have been perfunctory and of no practical value.
The dens are to some extent disguised as shops for various commodities, which are displayed for sale in the front room of the establishment, while divans are provided in the rear. In Hangchow City smoking goes on as much as ever.
The raw opium dealers are said to have had a very prosperous quarter. An increasing taste for the native drug is shown, but this may be due to the state of the Shanghai opium market.
During November two Commissioners, Jao and Wu, were sent to Hangchow from Peking to investigate the import of foreign and the cultivation of native opium in the province. They formally notified the higher authorities that the quantity grown and imported must be decreased by 10 per cent. yearly, and asked for statistics. The Provincial Treasurer issued circular instructions to all district Magistrates to prepare reports on the consumption, import, and cultivation. Pending the compilation of these returns, the Commissioners proceeded to Fukien, whence they will return in a few weeks.
Hsiang Shan.-The District Magistrate of Hsiang Shan has reported to the Provincial Treasurer that throughout his district, where hitherto the best opium in the province was grown, the cultivation has been abandoned, and grain crops have been sown in its stead.
Missionary Reports.-The missionary reports, which have been sent in in some numbers, are not informing, being mostly "nil returns." They show that practically nothing has been done towards suppression.
Proclamations.-Two new Proclamations only seem to have been issued, one by the Raw Opium Tax Office, and the other by the Sui An District Magistrate, urging in general terms the abandoning of poppy cultivation.
Official Action.-In T'ai P'ing and Sui An Hsiens alone has any local official action been taken. In the former district the Military Commander has issued a notice that any of his men found smoking will be instantly dismissed. At Sui An the opium dens are closed, and several of the den-keepers, who continued to permit smoking on their premises, were bambooed.
Altitude of Local Officials and Gentry.-Throughout the whole province the attitude of the officials seems to be total indifference. At Chu Chou, however, the Taotai and Brigade-General have broken themselves of smoking, but the head of the Chamber of Commerce is an opium den-keeper, and his establishments are still open. At Ching Yun the District Magistrate has established a refuge for smokers and has handed it over to the Protestant Mission. At Kiang Shan 50 per cent. of the gentry have given up smoking, and yamên runners are forbidden to smoke.
Restriction of Area under Cultivation.-With the exception of Hsiang Shan, no restriction of the cultivated area whatever has been enforced, nor have any returns or investigations been made by officials. A proclamation discouraging poppy-growing has been issued at Sui An. At Tai Ping it is said that one-third of the land hitherto sown with poppy is being used for other purposes.
Restriction on Smokers.-All missionary reports are unanimous in stating that no restrictions on smokers have been put into force.
Use of Anti-Opium Medicine. At T'ai Ping Hsien the anti-opium medicine shop is well patronized.
At Sui An the only magistrate who is at all active of all those mentioned in the missionary reports has opened a refuge, and pays for assistants employed therein and all medicines, and has placed the control of this establishment in the hands of the Protestant Mission. At Ching Tün, the local magistrate and gentry have contributed to a fund for the free distribution of medicine, but no cures are on record. At Yen Chou, since the nominal closing of the dens on the 21st October, medicine has been distributed gratis. At Chu Chou, one shop has been opened under official auspices specially for the sale of anti-opium medicine, and some private institutions of the kind exist. At Lung Yu, a hong which originally sold raw opium, has been turned into an anti-opium medicine shop.
No other official refuges or anti-opium societies would seem to exist in the province.
Monopolies and Increased Taxation.--Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. complain that the Prefect of Hu-chou is attempting to establish an official opium monopoly within the prefecture. I have called the attention of the Governor to this breach of the agreement with the Wai-wu Pu that the question of official opium monopolies is to be left in abeyance for the present. A scheme for an official monopoly at Ping Hu and Chapoo is also reported, but I have been unable to obtain confirmation of the attempt.
An increase of taxation at Hangchow is in force. In addition to the usual tax, 8 cents per tael weight, less 10 per cent., is levied on raw opium, and 8 cents net on prepared drug.
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Extract from Report respecting Consumption of Opium in Manchuria. WHAT has been done in the way of controlling and limiting the consumption of opium in Manchuria is this. The opium edicts have been published everywhere. Opium
5
275
4
lead to the more rapid suppression of opium-smoking within the Settlement than is now contemplated. What action will finally prevail will depend upon the opinions expressed at this meeting by the ratepayers.
In compliance with your request I have the honour to return to you herewith Mr. Broomhall's pamphlet.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
PELHAM L. WARREN.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from Intelligence Report for December Quarter, 1907, in Chengtu, January 28, 1908.
The Anti-Opium Movement.-There is, I regret to say, but little progress to be reported in this direction. Such information as I have been able to obtain during the past three months will be included in a separate Report.
Missionary travellers inform me that in most places opium-smoking is indulged in, as heretofore, openly and without restriction. Beyond the taxing of the opium divans by the officials nothing has been done to regulate the traffic in the drug, and whatever reduction of the area under cultivation there may have been this autumn is not noticeable. In Chengtu the vigorous measures taken six months ago appear to have been almost entirely relaxed; the once clean and tidy official opium divans are (relapsing into their former state of squalor, registration of opium smokers is not enforced, and the private preparation of the drug continues unchecked.
(No. 4.) Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
Acting Consul Pearson to Sir J. Jordan.
Hangchow, February 3, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to inclose a Report on the progress of the anti-opium movement in this province during the past four months.
I have, &c. (Signed)
Q. W. PEARSON.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Report on the Progress of the Anti-Opium Movement in Chekiang Province. Hangchow--The provincial authorities show very little energy in support of the anti-opium movement throughout the province. The new Governor, Feng, has so far ignored the whole question, and his apathy in this direction is universally imitated by his subordinates.
The Anti-Opium Society of Hangehow was gradually dying a natural death through lack of enthusiasm and funds, when in November Taotoi Wang, head of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, called a meeting of the gentry and asked for subscriptions to revive the Society. Little was forthcoming, the officials and their subscriptions being conspicuously absent. It was decided to relinquish the comparatively large buildings then occupied by the Society, and to lease smaller premises and curtail operations. Some dozen men of no standing or reputation have been attached to the Society as agents, but their investigations have been perfunctory and of no practical valne.
The dens are to some In Hangchow City smoking goes on as much as ever. extent disguised as shops for various commodities, which are displayed for sale in the front room of the establishment, while divans are provided in the rear.
The raw opium dealers are said to have had a very prosperous quarter. A increasing taste for the native drug is shown, but this may be due to the state of the Shanghac opium market.
During November two Commissioners, Jao and Wu, were sent to Hangchow from Peking to investigate the import of foreign and the cultivation of native opium in the province. They formally notified the higher authorities that the quantity grown and
5
imported must be decreased by 10 per cent, yearly, and asked for statistics. The 'Provincial Treasurer issued circular instructions to all district Magistrates to prepare reports on the consumption, import, and cultivation. Pending the compilation of these returns, the Commissioners proceeded to Fukien, whence they will return in a few weeks.
Hsiang Shan.-The District Magistrate of Hsiang Shan has reported to the Provincial Treasurer that throughout his district, where hitherto the best opium in the province was grown, the cultivation has been abandoned, and grain crops have been sown in its stead.
Missionary Reports.-The missionary reports, which have been sent in in some numbers, are not informing, being mostly "nil returns." They show that practically nothing has been done towards suppression,
Proclamations.Two new Proclamations only seem to have been issued, one by the Raw Opium Tax Office, and the other by the Sui An District Magistrate, urging in general terms the abandoning of poppy cultivation.
if
Official Action.-In T'ai P'ing and Sui An Hsiens alone has any local official action been taken. In the former district the Military Commander has issued a notice that any of his men are found smoking they will be instantly dismissed. At Sui An the opium dens are closed, and several of the den-keepers, who continued to permit smoking on their premises, were bambooed,
Altitude of Local Officials and Gentry.-Throughout the whole province the attitude of the officials seems to be total indifference. At Chu Chou, however, the Taotai and Brigade-General have broken themselves of smoking, but the head of the Chamber of Commerce is an opium den-keeper, and his establishments are still open. At Ching Yun the District Magistrate has established a refuge for smokers and has handed it over to the Protestant Mission. At Kiang Shan 50 per cent. of the gentry have given up smoking, and yamên runners are forbidden to smoke.
Restriction of Area under Cultivation.-With the exception of Hsiang Shan, no restriction of the cultivated area whatever has been enforced, nor have any returns or investigations been made by officials. A proclamation discouraging poppy-growing has been issued at Sui An. At Tai Ping it is said that one-third of the land hitherto sown with poppy is being used for other purposes.
Restriction on Smokers.-All missionary reports are unanimous in stating that no restrictions on smokers have been put into force.
Use of Anti-Opium Medicine. At T'ai Ping Hsien the anti-opium medicine shop is well patronized.
At Sui An the only magistrate who is at all active of all those mentioned in the missionary reports has opened a refuge, and pays for assistants employed therein and all medicines, and has placed the control of this establishment in the hands of the Protestant Mission. At Ching Tün, the local magistrate and gentry bave contributed to a fund for the free distribution of medicine, but no cures are on record. At Yen Chou, since the nominal closing of the dens on the 21st October, medicine has been distributed gratis. At Chu Chou, one shop has been opened under official auspices specially for the sale of anti-opium medicine, and some private institutions of the kind exist. At Lung Yu, a hong which originally sold raw opium, has been turned into an anti-opium medicine shop.
No other official refuges or anti-opium societies would seem to exist in the province.
Monopolies and Increased Taxation.--Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. complain that the Prefect of Hu-chou is attempting to establish an official opium monopoly within the prefecture. I have called the attention of the Governor to this breach of the agreement with the Wai-wu Pu that the question of official opium monopolies is to be left in abeyance for the present. A scheme for an official monopoly at Ping Hu and Chapoo is also reported, but I have been unable to obtain confirmation of the attempt.
An increase of taxation at Hangchow is in force. In addition to the usual tax, 8 cents per tael weight, less 10 per cent., is levied on raw opium, and 8 cents net on prepared drug.
Inclosure 5 in No. 1.
Extract from Report respecting Consumption of Opium in Manchuria. WHAT has been done in the way of controlling and limiting the consumption of opium in Manchuria is this. The opium edicts have been published everywhere. Opium
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