[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty' Government.] 201
41625
CHINA TRADE.
16
CONFIDENTIAL.
14 NOV 08 [October 24.]
SECTION 1.
[36921]
No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Wilton to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 24.)
Yunnan-fu, September 1, 1908.
(No. 29.) Sir,
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith the copy of my despatch No. 36 of to-day's date, addressed to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, on the subject of the steps being taken by the Governor-General of Yünnan to check the production and consumption of opium.
I have, &c. (Signed) E. C. WILTON,
Inclosure in No. 1.
(No. 56.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Wilton to Sir J. Jordan.
Yünnan-fu, September 1, 1908. REFERRING to my despatch No. 34 of the 17th August, I have the honour to report that the Governor-General sent a telegraphic Circular to the provincial authorities on or about the 23rd August, ordering them to prevent the passage of opium through any customs or li-kin barriers within their jurisdiction on and after the 21st September next.
In my despatch No. 34 I inclosed the copy of a Proclamation, issued by the Governor-General on the 21st July last, forbidding the production and consumption of opium after the end of the current Chinese year, the 21st January, 1909 (Inclosure 2). The effect of this Proclamation, coupled with the present orders, if faithfully carried out, will be that opium will cease to have a marketable value in this province, and that illicit trade in this article will entail very heavy penalties after the 21st January, 1909. One result will be a serious loss of revenue to Yunnan of 1,500,000 taels annually. The return of opium for this year is estimated at 21,000 cwt., as against 47,000 cwt. in 1906.
This amount, however, does not include opium consumed by the local farmers in the opium-producing districts, or the quantities smuggled from one place to another within the province, or the opium employed in contraband traffic on the frontiers—an average annual total of about 13,000 cwt. The loss of this revenue will be seriously felt in so poor a province as Yunnan, which even now receives an annual contribution of 480,000 taels from Szechuan.
The Governor-General, a man of somewhat impatient temperament, appears to be determined to eradicate opium from the province with but little delay, and has been endeavouring to take practical steps to further his object.
On the 28th July, Liu chün, ex-Prefect of Yunnan-fu and Acting Taotai designate at Tengyueh, left for his new post with orders to report fully on the state of affairs in regard to opium at Ch'u hsiung, the eastern limit of the Western Circuit. He was also directed to visit Meng hua ting en route, and to stay some days at Yung chang, in order to investigate the measures taken to check the consumption and cultivation of opium.
The deputy sent secretly to examine into the opium question in outlying districts returned a few days ago. His report was so confused and misleading that the Governor-General threatened to have him executed.
Chinese public opinion condemns, albeit in a whisper, Hsi Liang's action as hasty, rash, and ill-advised. I am informed that the people in Western Yunnan, where more than one-half of the whole opium crop is produced, have been roused into declaring that they will oppose with force any attempt to prevent the cultivation of the poppy.
The path the Governor-General has set himself to tread is very difficult and dangerous. Moreover, the district officials appear to be so indifferent and faint-hearted that I venture to think the task is beyond his powers.
I have, &c.
(Signed) E. C. WILTON.
[1980 aa
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty' Government.] 201
41625
CHINA TRADE.
{}
16
CONFIDENTIAL.
14 NOV 08 [October 24.]
SECTION 1.
[36921]
No. 1.
Acting Consul-General Wilton to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received October 24.)
Yunnan-fu, September 1, 1908.
(No. 29.) Sir,
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith the copy of my despatch No. 36 of to-day's date, addressed to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, on the subject of the steps being taken by the Governor-General of Yünnan to check the production and consumption of opium.
I have, &c. (Signed) E. C. WILTON,
Inclosure in No. 1.
(No. 56.) Sir,
Acting Consul-General Wilton to Sir J. Jordan.
Yünnan-fu, September 1, 1908. REFERRING to my despatch No. 34 of the 17th August, I have the honour to report that the Governor-General sent a telegraphic Circular to the provincial authorities on or about the 23rd August, ordering them to prevent the passage of opium through any cutoms or li-kin barriers within their jurisdiction on and after the 21st September
next.
In my despatch No. 34 I inclosed the copy of a Proclamation, issued by the Governor-General on the 21st July last, forbidding the production and consump- tion of opium after the end of the current Chinese year, the 21st January, 1909 (Inclosure 2). The effect of this Proclamation, coupled with the present orders, if faithfully carried out, will be that opium will cease to have a marketable value in this province, and that illicit trade in this article will entail very heavy penalties after the One result will be a serious loss of revenue to Yunnan of 21st January, 1909. 1,500,000 taels annually. The return of opium for this year is estimated at 21,000 cwt., This amount, however, does not include opium as against 47,000 cwt. in 1906. consumed by the local farmers in the opium-producing districts, or the quantities smuggled from oue place to another within the province, or the opium employed in contraband traffic on the frontiers-an average annual total of about 13,000 cwt. loss of this revenue will be seriously felt in so poor a province as Yunnan, which even now receives an annual contribution of 480,000 taels from Szechuan.
The
The Governor-General, a man of somewhal impatient temperament, appears to be determined to eradicate opium from the province with but little delay, and has been endeavouring to take practical steps to further his object.
On the 28th July, Liu chün, ex-Prefect of Yunnan-fu and Acting Taotai designate at Tengyueh, left for his new post with orders to report fully on the state of affairs in regard to opium at Ch'u hsiung, the eastern limit of the Western Circuit. He was also directed to visit Meng hua ting en route, and to stay some days at Yung chang, in order to investigate the measures taken to check the consumption and cultivation of opium. The deputy sent secretly to examine into the opinn question in outlying His report was so confused and misleading that the districts returned a few days ago. Governor-General threatened to have him executed.
Chinese public opinion condemns, albeit in a whisper, Hsi Liang's action as hasty, rash, and ill-advised. I am informed that the people in Western Yannan, where more than one-half of the whole opium crop is produced, have been roused into declaring that they will oppose with force any attempt to prevent the cultivation of the poppy.
The path the Governor-General has set himself to tread is very difficult and dangerous. Moreover, the district officials appear to be so indifferent and faint-hearted that I venture to think the task is beyond his powers.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
E. C. WILTON.
[1980 aa➡
-1]
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.