Colonel Saly
AB
It wants
a
Th
de Quincey
such a dose as
thes
to swallow
"present I have not
theat at present
I confers that at
mastered the sabject: it
recessary for
short notice
Lore
way
he
day to do so at
and then I shall want
a "femmican" of this undigested stuff- but hoffely the time is not yet.
*.18.1.11
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[44855]
No. 1.
149
[December 12.]
SECTION
O
622
Rece
Consul-General O'Brien-Butler to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 12JAN ||
(No. 21. Confidential.) Sir,
Yünnan-fu, October 31, 1910.
I HAVE the honour to forward to you herewith copy of a report on opium affairs at Yunnan-fu which I have sent to His Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Peking.
I have, &c.
P. E. O'BRIEN-BUTLER.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Consul-General O'Brien-Butler to Mr. Max Müller.
(No. 40. Coufidential.) Sir,
SINCE writing my last opium report, despatch No. 17 of the 20th May, I have
Yunnan-fu, October 29, 1910. heard nothing as regards opium matters in any part of my district ouside of Yunnan-fu beyond vague reports that the authorities are really going to put a stop to the cultivation of opium in Kueichou. I have caused a circular to be sent to all the British missionaries in Yüunan (exclusive of Tengyueh) and Kueichou asking that I may be supplied with information, and on the receipt of reports from them I shall be in a position to draw up a complete opium report.
In Yünnan-fu there has been no relaxation in the measures taken for the suppression of opium smoking. The Opium Suppression Bureau is very vigilant, and notices emanating from it are to be seen all over the city and its suburbs.
On the 24th September the Viceroy issued a strong proclamation, couched in very simple language, warning the people not to believe designing persons who spread rumours that the cultivation of opium would be again permitted. His Excellency went on to state that the time for planting the poppy had arrived but the people should plant something else, and if anyone were found to be cultivating opium not only would he himself be severely punished but punishment would fall on the official of his locality as well.
Whilst the Viceroy is so energetic in preventing others from smoking opium he reserves to himself the full right to do so in secret-if an action can be said to be secret which is known to every man on the street. In my report for December quarter last I stated that his Excellency had brought down his daily dose of the drug from over one Chinese ounce to one-fifth of an ounce; he has now evidently given up his endeavours to reform, as I hear on very good authority that he has increased his daily allowance to more than the former amount.
I have, &c.
P. E. O'BRIEN-BUTLER.
[1804 m---3]
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