CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 305

[This Dosument is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.) 303

4

In view of the facts which I have described, I venture most strongly to appeal to you to move His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to take such action as may terminate without further delay the intolerable state of affairs which has unfortunately been permitted to continue for the past six months to the detriment of British prestige, and to the serious financial loss of British merchants, and risk to the revenues of a British colony, which has loyally co-operated with the Imperial policy of opium suppression.

I may add that his Excellency Liu Yuk Lin, Minister-designate to England, who dined with me on the 11th instant on his way through Hong Kong, seemed much suprised to hear that the orders of the Wai-wu Pu had not been carried out, and that friction still existed. His Excellency Yuan Shu-fang, the Viceroy of Canton, has resigned his post and passed through Hong Kong on the 12th instant.

I have, &c.

(Confidential.) (Telegraphic.)

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

Mr. Harcourt to Governor Sir F. Lugard.

F. D. LUGARD,

Downing Street, December 28, 1910. YOUR despatch No. 391 of the 14th November contains references to strictly confidential documents, and should be treated as confidential. It should not be published on any account.

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

C [572]

No. 1.

[January 6.]

SECTION 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received January 6, 1911.) (No. 456.) Sir,

WITH reference to Mr. Max Müller's telegram No. 188 of the 12th November, I

Peking, December 16, 1910. have the honour to transmit herewith the copy of a memorandum which he addressed to the Wai-wu Pu on the 16th November, expressing the hope that the Viceroy at Canton would be at once instructed to cancel that part of the proclamation recently issued which provided for an annual reduction of 30 per cent. in the opium conveyed from Canton to the province of Kiangsi in so far as it affected the trade in foreign opium.

On the 29th November I received the accompanying despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Canton, enclosing translation of the proclamation in question. A perusal of that document showed that a clear breach of the treaty was contemplated, and I accordingly lost no time in addressing a further remonstrance to the Chinese Government and pressing for the withdrawal of the illegal proclamation. The copy

of my note is enclosed herein.

I have now received the accompanying note from Prince Ch'ing in reply, from which it will be seen that the Viceroy has issued orders for the cancellation of the proclamation in question.

I had the honour to inform you of the substance of this communication in my telegram No. 202 dispatched to-day.

0

I have, &c.

J. N. JORDAN,

Enclosure 1 in No. 1,

Memorandum communicated to Prince Ch'ing by Mr. Max Müller,

MR. MAX MÜLLER has been informed by telegram from His Majesty's consul- general at Canton that a proclamation was issued by the Opium Investigation Office on the 1st November providing for more careful supervision over opium in transit to Kiangsi and for an annual reduction of 30 per cent. in the quantity conveyed there.

His Majesty's consul-general has very properly protested to the Governor-General against this illegal action on the part of the provincial authorities, and Mr. Max Müller trusts that now the matter has been brought to the notice of the central Government instructions will be sent at once to the Viceroy to cancel that part of the proclamation which refers to a 30 per cent. aunual reduction in the quantity of opium conveyed to Kiangsi, in so far as it may affect the trade in foreign opium.

In conclusion, Mr. Max Müller cannot but express surprise that the provincial authorities should proceed in the above manner at a time when the whole opium question is under negotiation between the two Governments.

Peking, Nocember 16, 1910.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

(No. 39.) Sir,

Consul-General Jamieson to Mr. Max Müller.

Canton, November 12, 1910.

WITH reference to my telegram No. 20 of the 11th instant, I have the honour to enclose copy and translation of the proclamation issued on the 1st November by the Head Opium Investigation Office, and of the despatch I have addressed to the Acting Governor-General on the subject.

[1857 ƒ-1]