[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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Conclusions.In conclusion, it impressed me in travelling through the country, that the governor-general undertook a difficult and dangerous task when he resolved to rid Yunnan of opium in two years, instead of effecting a gradual reduction, which would have given opportunities to the farmers to gradually replace their crops and possibly to meet some new demand. One can sympathise with him in the contention that ten years is a long period involving many changes, and that half-measures effect nothing in China; but, whilst he has achieved a great success in ridding large areas of the poppy, he has aroused a bitter opposition to the anti-opium measures, and has reduced the west of the province to a state of poverty which must have a marked effect on the trade of the next few years. Opium is the only product of the country for which there is at present any considerable outside market, and without opium there is no influx of silver with which to purchase the raw cotton and yarn, which is our principal import, and on which the people depend for their clothes. I shall deal later with the immediate economic effect as illustrated by the Tali-fu fair, but thousands of farmers have been suddenly deprived of their main winter's crop, and the fact we have escaped serious trouble bears the highest tribute to the law-abiding qualities of the people of Yunnan.
One other point strikes me as worthy of comment in reviewing the progress that has been made in dealing with the opium crops-I refer to the wonderful power which can be wielded by a sincere and effective Imperial decree, even in the most inaccessible circuit of this remote province of the Empire.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[40837]
Sir,
No. 1.
Foreign Office to India Office.
R 2 DEC 09
[November 15.]
SECTION 2.
Foreign Office, November 15, 1909. WITH reference to my letter of the 20th July last, I am directed by Secretary Sir Edward Grey to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from Mr. J. L. Maxwell, M.D.,* enclosing a minute adopted by the representative board of British anti-opium societies, at a meeting held on the 28th ultimo, in which the hope is expressed that His Majesty's Government will take the necessary steps to prevent any further use of the provisions of former treaties for the frustration of bona fide efforts to give effect to the new policy of the two Governments for the deliverance of China from the evil of opium smoking.
I am to enquire what reply, in the opinion of Lord Morley, should be returned to Mr. Maxwell.
* Mr. Maxwell, November 5, 1909.
[2494 p-2]
I
am,
&c.
F. A. CAMPBELL.
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