CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 366

(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

(38549]

365

C

35950

[October 22.]

RECO

SECTION 3.

Rre 24 NOV 10.

No. 1.

(No. 173.)

Mr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received October 22.)

(Telegraphic.) R.

Peking, October 22, 1910.

YOUR telegram No. 137 of 21st October: Opium. Sir A. Hosie selected Shansi, Shensi, and Kausuh to commence with, as the summer is best time for investigation in those provinces. Two latter provinces were amongst those from which our previous information was most meagre and musatisfactory. Sir A. Hosie's reports were posted viâ Siberia on 14th October and 19th October. His conclusions are practical eradication of poppy cultivation in Shansi, about 30 per cent. reduction in Shensi, and under 25 per cent. reduction in Kansuh. Estimates of reduction in two latter provinces, as communicated to him by provincial officials, were of course much higher.

Sir A. Hosie will start for Szechuan, Yünnan, and Kuei-Chow in November. (Repeated to India,}

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