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my numerous verbal and written representations in regard to specific instances of illegal seizure of foreign opium led to any result. Moreover, I have not as yet received any reply to the proposals which I made to Mr. Liu Yu-lin in writing on the 30th July.
His Majesty's Government have shown a most generous spirit in waiving the production by the Chinese Government of proof that China has fulfilled her share of the bargain concluded three years ago and in offering to consider any practical proposal made by the Chinese Government for supplementing the indirect restriction at present enforced by the Government of India, and I consider that your Highness's Government should suitably recognise this fact, and should at all events, pending the negotiations which I am most anxious to bring to a speedy and satisfactory conclusion, suspend the enforcement of the objectionable articles of the Kuangtung regulations.
I avail, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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[September 26.]
SECTION 2.
10
No. 1.
Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey-(Received September 26.) (No. 299.) Sir,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 282 of the 20th ultimo and with reference to
Peking, September 6, 1910. my telegram No. 153 of to-day's date, I have the honour to enclose a copy of my memorandum to the Wai-wu Pu recapitulating the various instances of illegal seizure of opium, covered by transit pass, which had been brought to my notice, and requesting that orders might be given for the release of the opium seized.
At an interview which I had at the Wai-wu Pu on the 2nd instant I expressed my surprise that, in spite of the conciliatory and generous attitude evinced by His Majesty's Government in regard to the general question of the restriction of the importation of opium, the Chinese Government had in the past month done nothing towards remedying a state of affairs which had formed the ground of such repeated and well-founded protests on my part.
my
I beg to enclose a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Canton, which amplifies the telegram to which I referred in the last paragraph of despatch No. 282 of the 20th August, and explains clearly the Viceroy's attitude in regard to these illegal seizures. The Viceroy's defence is that the holders of the opium were not furnished with the necessary permits, but Sir F. May points out that the opium was shipped direct from Hong Kong to Tsang Sheng and Longmoon under transit certificate issued by the Chinese Maritime Customs authorities in Hong Kong, and that the purchase of the opium in question had therefore been made at a place at which, as far as he knows, the Kwong Jung Company has no office, and the holders could not therefore be expected to have the required perraits. However that may be, the plain fact remains that Indian raw opium covered by transit pass has been seized and the holder imprisoned, and that, in spite of repeated representations, I have hitherto been unable to obtain any answer, let alone satisfaction, from the Wai-wu Pu.
I have, &c.
W. G. MAX MÜLLER,
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Memorandum communicated to Wai-wu Pu by Mr. Mur Müller.
MR. MAX MÜLLER has the honour to point out that on two separate occasions, namely, in his memoranda of the 29th July and the 9th August respectively, he informed the Board of certain cases of illegal seizure of opium covered by transit pass, and protested strongly against the action of the provincial authorities.
His represen tations, both written and verbal, however, on this subject have met with no success, as he has received no reply from the Board, and further illegal seizures continue to take place.
The first seizure of opium for refusal to comply with the regulations occurred at Swatow towards the end of July, when sixteen balls of Patna opium, covered by transit passes, and on which full duty and hi-kin had been paid, were scized by the Kuang Jung firm's runners at Ketyung Fort. At the same time it was reported that the firm had stationed men at all the raw opium shops to enforce payment of the tax at the time of purchase. Protest was made to the Wai-wu Pu in a memorandum of the 29th July, and on the 4th August His Majesty's consul-general at Canton reported that the Swatow authorities had been reprimanded for their action, but no reply has been received from the Wai-wu Pu.
On the 2nd August twenty balls of Patna opium were seized at Samshui after payment of the consolidated duty, and on the same date two whole chests were confiscated at Suntong and in the Tsang Sheng district (not Sunning district as stated
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