C.O. 7848 CHINA TRADE. CONFIDENTIAL.
[2707] No. 1 [January 25.] SECTION 4, 4 MAR 08
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 25, 1908.)
(No. 573.) Sir,
Peking, December 10, 1907. WITH the view of enabling you to form a just conception of the opium question, more especially in its relations to the international Settlement at Shanghae, I stated in my despatch No. 528 of the 10th November that I proposed to forward to you a general report on the subject from Mr. Leech, the Councillor of the Legation, and a report from His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae as regards the measures taken by the local authorities at that port for the suppression of opium dens outside the limits of the foreign Concessions. The former report was inclosed in my despatch No. 555, and I have now the honour to transmit to you the latter.
It shows that the suppression of the opium dens was carried out in a most effective manner in June last, and that, although a few have since reopened, the reopening has so far been on a very limited scale. A gradual return to the old order of things seems, however, to be anticipated by the Chinese.
The Council of the International Settlement has refused to issue any new licences for opium dens, but a portion of the old clientèle of the dens in the native city appears to have been attracted to the adjoining French Concession, where numbers of new licences are said to have been issued.
The difficulty of sustained action in a matter of this kind is enormous in China, and it is very possible that the anticipations of the Shanghae Chinese as to a gradual return to the old order of things may be realized. But should the Chinese Government continue to enforce the prohibitive measures, as they have declared their intention to do in their note of the 2nd December, the municipal authorities of the foreign Settlements and Concessions will either have to lend a more active co-operation, or expose their Governments to the reproach of having hampered the Chinese in their efforts to reform their own people.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 131.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General Sir P. Warren to Sir J. Jordan.
Shanghae, November 22, 1907.
IN compliance with the instructions contained in your despatch of the 4th instant, I have caused careful inquiries to be made to ascertain how far the closing of the opium shops and dens has been made effective in the native city of Shanghae.
The result of my inquiries is as follows:--
No opium shops, that is, shops which retail the drug as distinguished from opium dens, where opium is smoked on the premises, have been closed by the authorities. Their number, in fact, has increased, as many old opium dens have, with the consent of the officials, been transformed into opium shops.
On the other hand, the suppression last June of the opium dens in the city was carried out in a most effective manner, and for at least three months after the order was promulgated not a single one ventured to open its doors. Within the last few weeks, however, five houses have again put up their signboards, all of them under the protection of the Taotai's and Magistrate's runners, who constitute their principal clientèle.
No one, however, who is not either personally known to the proprietors or accompanied by some one who is, is allowed to enter their doors. A few small dens have also opened surreptitiously, but they have no signboards, and cater only for the lowest class.
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Go
C.O.
7848
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
)
[2707]
No. 1
REC
[January 25.]
SECTION 4,
4 MAR 08
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 25, 1908.)
(No. 573.) Sir,
Peking, December 10, 1907. WITH the view of enabling you to form a just conception of the opium question, more especially in its relations to the international Settlement at Shanghae, I stated in my despatch No. 528 of the 10th November that I proposed to forward to you a general report on the subject from Mr. Leech, the Councillor of the Legation, and a report from Ilis Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghae as regards the measures taken by the local authorities at that port for the suppression of opium dens outside the limits of the foreign Concessions. The former report was inclosed in my despatch No. 555, and I have now the honour to transmit to you the latter.
It shows that the suppression of the opium dens was carried out in a most effective manner in June last, and that, although a few have since reopened, the reopening has so far been on a very limited scale. A gradual return to the old order of things seems, however, to be anticipated by the Chinese.
The Council of the International Settlement has refused to issue any new licences for opium dens, but a portion of the old clientèle of the dens in the native city appears to have been attracted to the adjoining French Concession, where numbers of new licences are said to have been issued.
The difficulty of sustained action in a matter of this kind is enormous in China, and it is very possible that the anticipations of the Shanghae Chinese as to a gradual return to the old order of things may be realized. But should the Chinese Government continue to inforce the prohibitive measures, as they have declared their intention to do in their note of the 2nd December, the municipal authorities of the foreign Settlements and Concessions will either have to lend a more active co-operation, or expose their Governments to the reproach of having hampered the Chinese in their efforts to reform their own people.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(No. 131.) Sir,
Inclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General Sir P. Warren to Sir J. Jordan.
Shanghae, November 22, 1907.
IN compliance with the instructions contained in your despatch of the 4th instant,
I have caused careful inquiries to be made to ascertain how far the closing of the opium shops and dens has been made effective in the native city of Shanghae.
The result of my inquiries is as follows:--
No opium shops, that is, shops which retail the drug as distinguished from opium dens, where opium is smoked on the premises, have been closed by the authorities. Their number, in fact, has increased, as many old opium dens have, with the consent of the officials, been transformed into opium shops.
On the other hand, the suppression last June of the opium dens in the city was carried out in a most effective manner, and for at least three months after the order was promulgated not a single one ventured to open its doors. Within the last few weeks, however, five houses have again put up their signboards, all of them under the protection of the Taotai's and Magistrate's runners, who constitute their principal clientèle.
No one, however, who is not either personally known to the proprietors or accompanied by some one who is, is allowed to enter their doors. A few small dens have also opened surreptitiously, but they have no signboards, and cater only for the lowest class.
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