8
practical interests of the British importers of foreign opium, or as to constitute an actual discrimination in favour of native as against foreign opium. Your contention that this tax is an infringement of the provision of the additional article to the Chefoo agreement is undoubtedly correct, though after a lengthy correspondence last year I was unable to induce the Wai-wu Pu to admit that no further taxation beyond that laid down in the additional article was leviable on foreign opium in a treaty port, whether the packages were broken or not.
The enforcement of our strict treaty rights in regard to the importation of opium is, under the present circumstances, a question requiring most delicate handling. His Majesty's Government have ruled that neither the Imperial Anti-Opium Regulations of 1906 nor provincial regulations enacted solely with a view to the strict and proper application of the former in various provinces shall be regarded as constituting an infringement of our treaty rights, and Sir Edward Grey went farther, and said that, even should a case be made out in favour of the rules being considered to constitute a technical violation of treaty rights, he would be disposed all the same not to raise objections to the rules being carried out.
The above is for your confidential information and guidance only. Should Messrs. Sassoon apply to you again, you should inform them in general terms of the representation you made to the Governor of Chekiang and say that you have referred the matter to this legation.
I am,
&c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER.
ment is the Property of His Peitemuie Molasty's Comomment.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[26216]
CO
24839
[July 19.]
SECTION 2.
REC
Rro 12 AUG 10
No. 1
Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Co. to Foreign Office.—(Received July 19.)
9, Fenchurch Avenue, London, July 18, 1910. WE have the honour to inform you of the receipt to-day of the following telegram from Hong Kong:-
Sir,
"Kwantung opiuma tax still in force. According to telegram dated 13th instant from British Minister, Peking, the Wai-wu Pu undertook to inform Viceroy that tax is illegal, but so far without result. Please request Foreign Office to press for immediate withdrawal of tax. Delay is increasing loss of merchants, which is already enormous.
"Merchants look to Government to make China responsible for losses brought about by violation of treaty rights."
In view of the fact that the tax is now admitted to be illegal, we beg to urge His Majesty's Government to allow of no delay in withdrawing it, as the position is already sufficiently alarming to warrant energetic measures being taken to relax the tension.
We have, &c.
E. D. SASSOON and Co.
0
[2812 t-2]
497
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