CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 128

ཨི ཨུ བྷཱ 1 ¢

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

C

126

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

( (15996)

No. 1.

[May 9.] 17590

SECTION

REGE 11 JUN 10,

(No. 110.) Sir,

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received May 9.)

Peking, April 20, 1910.

I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copy of a note from the Wai-wu Pu on the subject of the reduction of the trade of Indian opium to China. Prince Ching complains that while it was agreed that from 1908 the export of Indian opium should be reduced by 5,100 chests a-year, with a view to extinguish the trade to China at the end of ten years, the Customs returns show that instead of only 40,800 chests, 42,182 chests of Indian opium were landed in China in 1909, and that under these conditions at the end of ten years Indian opium will still be imported to China. The enquiries I have caused to be made of the Customs administration seem to show that the figure for the year's import given in the Wai-wu Pu's note is below the proper amount. Absolute accuracy in statistics of this sort is difficult to attain, but the fact remains that at the end of ten years Indian opium will, if the present arrangement is merely prolonged for a further term of years, continue to be imported to this country contrary to the spirit of the agreement entered into with a view to the total extinction of the trade to China at the end of ten years from 1908.

I have in the meantime addressed the enclosed reply to the Wai-wu Pu, in which I point out that the explanation of the excessive import for the year is that the high price of the drug in China has attracted the trade formerly carried on between India and other countries, and that I am referring the matter for the consideration of His Majesty's Government.

I have also taken this opportunity of informing the Chinese Government, as instructed in your despatch No. 45 of the 3rd February, that the Government of India, before consenting to a prolongation of the existing agreement, will require to be satisfied that the freedom of the wholesale trade in the treaty ports between native dealers and the importing merchants has been observed, and will continue to be observed by the provincial Governments.

I have, &c.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

W. G. MAX MÜLLER.

(Translation.) Sir,

Wai-uu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.

April 13, 1910. WITH reference to the opium prohibition question, an agreement concluded between China and Great Britain it was provided that the number of chests to be annually exported from India should be fixed at 51,000. Further that, beginning from 1908, there should be a gradual annual reduction of 5,100 chests, culminating in ten years' time in the total cessation of export. A calculation on the above basis would reduce the export in 1909 to 40,800 chests.

But an examination of the Customs returns for 1909 shows that 42,182 chests of Indian opium were imported. This, compared with the proper amount to be exported, viz., 40,800 chests, gives an excess of 1,382 chests. Now, in restricting the amount of opium exported from India, and in making a gradual reduction each year, Great Britain was actuated by a friendly desire to assist China to prohibit opium. China, on her part, has, by prohibiting the planting of native opium, shown that she is sincere in her attempt to remedy the evil, and she has not been content merely with a gradual reduction of one-tenth annually. However, if the amount of foreign opium cannot be gradually reduced, but even shows an increase, I fear that the success of the opium prohibition movement will be seriously bindered.

As regards the question of how a satisfactory procedure is to be arranged, I have the honour to request that your Excellency will refer the matter to His Majesty's

[2765 i-1]