CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 16

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unless restrictions removed.

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Chinese dealers must either go out of business or submit themselves to the terms of the Government monopolists contrary to treaty rights detrimental to our trade.

(Telegraphic.)

Inclosure 9 in No. 1.

HEWETT, Chairman.

Sir J. Jordan to the Governor of Hong Kong.

Peking, October 23, 1909. TELEGRAM from the Chamber of Commerce of 15th October.

Pray iuform Chamber that His Majesty's consul-general at Canton has been instructed to make further representations to the Viceroy, and that I am awaiting the result before again moving in the matter here.

Sir,

Inclosure 10 in No. 1.

Consul-General Jamieson to Governor Sir F. Lugard.

Canton, November 5, 1909.

I HAVE the honour to forward, herewith, for your Excellency's perusal, a copy of a despatch which I have addressed to His Majesty's Minister at Peking on the subject of the enforcement by the provincial authorities of the new opium licensing regulations.

I have, &c.

(No. 114.) Sir,

Inclosure 11 in No. 1.

Consul-General Jamieson to Sir J. Jordan,

J. W. JAMIESON.

Canton, November 2, 1909.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 6th October, transmitting copies of certain correspondence on the subject of the restriction imposed locally on the wholesale trade in Indian opium, and instructing me to make further urgent representations to the acting governor-general against this vexatious interference with the still legitimate trade of British firms.

I had, prior to the receipt thereof, addressed a communication to his Excellency in the sense indicated, and I yesterday received his reply thereto. As you will see from the translation enclosed, no reference is made therein to any instructions from the Wai-wu Pu, and the attitude assumed generally is that my interference is uncalled for.

I have accordingly addressed a further despatch to his Excellency, taking up the ground that the interpretation of the agreement between Great Britain and China for the suppression of opium rests with the representatives of the two Governments, and pointing out that prohibitive measures directed against legitimate British trade are in contravention of treaty engagements.

It is difficult to see what other argument one can employ, as his Excellency is so convinced that he is quite within his rights in dealing with the Chinese opium hongs as he sees fit.

I have to-day sent you a telegram reporting the action taken, which I trust will meet with your approval,

Sir,

Inclosure 12 in No. 1.

I am, &c.

J. W. JAMIESON.

Viceroy Yuan to Consul-General Jamieson.

Canton, October 31, 1909.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 18th October regarding the regulations restricting the sale of raw opium promulgated by

the provincial authorities, in which you inform me that you are in receipt of a telegram from His Majesty's Minister instructing you to see that restrictions on the sale of foreign opium are removed.

I find that the Opium Prohibition Bureau some time ago ordered all native opium shops to register themselves and take out licences. These regulations were issued, with the Imperial sanction, by the Government Council, to all provinces alike, and were not brought into being in Kuangtung alone. As regards the regulations compel- ling purchasers of opium to obtain licences before opium may be sold to them, it was issued under imperial sanction, and the authorities of this province have no power to abrogate it

In your despatch you assert that "the opium hongs never agreed to the permit system, and were all along selling to buyers without permits."

Even if what you say is

a fact, it is clear that the Chinese opium hongs infringed the regulations, and the result, namely, the sealing of their shops and the imposition of a fine, is entirely their own fault.

Liang Chih Hou, the proprietor of the Ch'uan Fu Chang hong, was arrested on account of the infringement by that hong of the regulations, in that raw opium was improperly sold to persons not duly licensed, and it is impossible that this offence should be condoned.

I have carefully studied the arguments embodied in your despatch, and find that the matter is one solely concerning Chinese merchants, and am surprised that you should be willing to apply for this man's release.

Great Britain has rendered great assistance in the suppression of opium, and has expressed her willingness to reduce the quantity imported from year to year. The Chinese Government is very grateful for this friendly attitude. The regulations, issued and sanctioned by the throne, for making searches and for restricting the trade, are of the utmost importance for suppressing the use of opium. The various provincial authorities must, therefore, exert themselves to the utmost to carry out these regulations, thereby returning the kindness and generosity of your friendly nation.

Should China succeed in rooting out this cancerous growth of many years, it would, I think, be a source of pleasure to your country.

At present foreign merchants may continue to trade in opium with the opium hongs as before, but the searching of native opium shops is a matter concerning the internal government of China, and it would appear that you have no right to interfere therein.

Your Excellency,

I avail, &c.

(Seal of Governor-General,

Inclosure 13 in No. 1.

Consul-General Jamieson to Viceroy Yuan.

Canton, November 2, 1909. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excelleney's communi- cation of the 31st October, in reply to my despatch of the 18th October, having reference to the restrictions imposed at Canton on the wholesale opium trade, in which British merchants are interested.

I gather therefrom that, in your Excellency's opinion, any interference on my part in this matter, which is stated to be one concerning the internal Government of China, is uncalled for. Stress is also laid on Great Britain's friendly assistance in the suppression of opium, and it is therefore contended that the measures adopted should be welcomed by her.

Permit me, in reply to point out that the agreement to assist in suppressing the opium evil was one arrived at between our two Governments, and its interpretation accordingly lies with them.

On the strength of certain facts laid before him the representative of the British Government, His Majesty's Minister at Pekin, has come to the conclusion that the spirit of the agreement is being infringed, and he has requested the representative of the Chinese Government, the Wai-wu Pu, to move your Excellency to have all restrictions on legitimate British trade removed. The latter have promised him that instructions to this effect would be sent, thereby acknowledging the justice of his contention.