755
2
It is by no means unlikely that the poppy is being cultivated elsewhere in Western Yunnan than in the districts mentioned above, I have been told by Chinese that, away from the high road, opium may be found growing in Western Yunnan as heretofore, but I hesitate to accept this general and sweeping statement. I was informed by some European residents at Yunnan-fu that they had seen fields planted with opium in a remote corner in the mountains, a day's journey only from the capital. I have personally inspected these fields, and am satisfied that no opium is growing in them.
The Magistrate of Fu-min-hsien, 18 miles from Yunnan-fu, has received promotion for baving ploughed up the opium fields in his jurisdiction, and for having sent in six mule loads of opium pipes and opium lamps, said to have been voluntarily handed over by smokers who had abandoned the babit. I am credibly informed by Chinese that he Thousands of opium has been denounced by the local gentry as an opium smoker. pipes are being exhibited at all the city gates. They are publicly announced to have been the property of those who had voluntarily given up opium smoking. It should be observed, however, that the pipes on view are old, common ones, and that a well-to-do opium smoker in Yünnan often owns ten or more pipes.
The Roman Catholic missionaries predict a storm in Yunnan within the next few months. They declare that opium cultivation is going on, and any attempt at suppression will be forcibly resisted. I have talked with several well-to-do Chinese merchants at Yunnan-fu. They appear to be unanimous in supporting the suppression of the opium vice in Yunnan, but they are also unanimous in holding that the suppression should take place gradually, and extend over a period of four or five years. They are men with a stake in the province, and, by means of their commercial correspondents, in touch with popular feeling throughout the province. The high officials at Yunnan-fu have expressed their confidence to me that the Governor-General will successfully carry out his task of suppressing the cultivation, sale, and consumption of the drug at the end of the present Chinese New Year (20th January). A good cause and determination are, they consider, sufficient to enforce obedience upon a docile population. It is true that the Yunnanese are indolent and apathetic, but it is open to question whether "docile" is the correct term to apply to them indiscriminately. Yunnan-fu and its neighbourhood are under the eye of a Governor-General of determined character, backed by an adequate military force. The districts remote from the capital are administered by officials, with nothing more effective to overawe the defiant cultivators of opium than a miserable medley of runners and police-too often besotted opium smokers. The extensive area of the province and the difficulties of transport, especially in Western Yunnan, make it no easy matter to be continually moving troops to every part where opium is now being grown. The prestige of the Governor-General is Had it not been for necessarily weaker there than it is in and about Yunnan-fu itself.
the succession of secret deputies, unknown to one another in many cases, sent out by the Governor-General during 1908 to report on the cultivation of opium throughout the province, it is certain that the opium which has been extensively planted in the districts named would have remained undisturbed by any action of the local officials. I hear that rumours of popular determination to resist the anti-opium crusade have been fast pouring in during the last few days. It may be that these rumours are baseless, but it may also be that the malcontents are screwing up their courage by talking themselves into a state of insubordination. Speaking generally, the opening of the next Chinese year is regarded with considerable apprehension by the Chinese mercantile community at Yünoan-fu, which does not believe that opium in Yunnan can be suppressed so suddenly, and is alarmed at the prospect of troubles should the Governor-General ́endeavour to enforce his policy. In regard to the province of Kueichou, I have received no information whatsoever from missionary residents. I have, however, had the opportunity of conversation with an intelligent Chinese gentleman, who had been travelling in Kueichou and Eastern Yünnan during October and November last. He tells me that he believes that the cultivation of the poppy is not sensibly diminished in Kueichou, and that it is to be found throughout the province, except along the high roads. This view has been independently confirmed by a Cantonese merchant with commercial correspondents in Keichou.
The sincerity, determination, and the efforts of the Governor-General to stamp out He has been assisted to some extent opium in Yunnan cannot, I think, be questioned.
He has, however, by the abundant harvest and the cheap price of food in 1908. departed in some wise from the ideal he had placed before himself of totally eradicating opium before the end of the present Chinese New Year (20th January) by extending the time of sale of surplus stocks to the end of the third moon (April 1909). This exten- sion appears to have given rise to a rumour that the Central Government were disposed
3
to relax the restrictions against opium. I inclose copy and translation of a Proclamation issued by Taotai Kuo, the head of the Anti-opium Bureau, announcing the closing of the anti-opium dispensarics at the close of the present Chinese year.
To sum up, I venture to express the opinion that the Governor-General will not be able to perform the task he had set himself (see P.G., Nos. 34 and 36 of 1908), of totally suppressing opiam in Yünnan at the end of this Chinese year, viz., the 20th January, 1909.
I have, &c. (Signed) E. C. WILTON.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Proclamation issued by Taotai Kuo, Director of the Anti-Opium Bureau at Yünnan-fu.
(Translation.)
LET it be known to all,
Whereas, in obedience to the Edict for the suppression of opium, and under the orders of the Governor-General, the Anti-opium Bureau was established in July 1908. Sub-offices were added a central at the "Iling ssu" (temple), and a western sub-office at "Hu kuo ssn" (temple) in October; a southern at the "Tien hou kung" (temple) in November; and an castern sub-office at "San kang tz'u" (temple) in December last. Anti-opium remedies were issued from one and all these dispensaries. These things are common knowledge. During the year over 10,000 patients have broken off the habit.
Now, the Governor-General has already submitted a Memorial to the Throne fixing the date for the prohibition of opium in this province at the end of this year (20th January, 1909). The Bureau and sub-offices will be therefore closed, and the issue of anti-opium decoctions cease on that date.
Let those, therefore, who are of the mind to get rid of the opium craving, but have no money to purchase medicines, take an early opportunity of coming for medicine to the dispensaries, so that they may regain vigour and be cured. Do not delay now and repent afterwards, when it is too late.
After the date given all opium smokers will be arrested and summarily dealt with. No clemency will be shown. You all are dutiful and love your neighbours. You should not carelessly entangle yourselves in the meshes of the law.
The Taotai of Police has issued public notices on this matter. Further, let it be clearly known to you all that it is my duty to issue this Proclamation, instructing you one and all to take heed and reflect that the final date for the prohibition of opium will be upon you in the twinkling of an eye. After that date shops dealing in opium, raw and prepared, will be all closed, and their owners will have to seek another trade.
Let those who have still the opium craving come to the dispensaries, bring their tickets, and receive medicine. Break the habit off in time, and avoid becoming law- breakers. It will be too late to repent afterwards.
Those who disregard the words of this Proclamation, and treat them as of no moment, will be hereafter duly arrested and severely punished according to law.
Beware! Do not say you were not warned in time. Tremble! Dated the sixteenth day of the eleventh month, in the thirty-fourth year of Kuang Hsü.
December 9, 1908.
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