CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 471

J

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

469

CO 6653

[February 27.]

SECTION 2.

Race

No. 17 48

[7245]

(No. 56.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received February 27.`

Peking, February 7, 1911. WITH reference to Mr. Max Müller's despatch of the 6th September last, in which he enclosed the copy of a memorandum addressed to the Wai-wu Pu recapitulating the various instances of seizure of Indian opium covered by transit certificates, I have the honour to enclose the copy of further correspondence which has passed between the Government of Hong Kong and His Majesty's Legation in regard to the Santong and Samshui cases.

My despatch to Sir F. Lugard explains why I do not see my way to making further representations in regard to the first case, and sums up the information in my possession as to the seizure effected at Samshui. The circumstances in which the dealer was punished in the latter instance are still somewhat obscure, and until they are cleared up I do not feel justified in approaching the Wai-wu Pu again in the

I have, &c.

matter.

J. N. JORDAN.

Sir,

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Governor Sir F. Lugard to Sir J. Jordan.

Hong Kong, January 12, 1911. WITH reference to my despatch No. 2 of the 9th instant, I have the honour to forward the enclosed copy of a joint letter dated the 9th instant from Messrs. David Sassoon and Co. (Limited), and Messrs. F. D. Sassoon and Co., and to refer your Excellency as regards the Santong case to pp. 27-32, and as regards the Samshui case to pp. 38-41, of the summary enclosed in my despatch numbered as above dated the 28th ultimo. I enclose also a copy of Messrs. Sassoon's letter dated the 21st of last November, and may add that I forwarded a copy of that letter to His Britannic Majesty's consul-general at Canton on the 22nd idem.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

I have, &c.

F. D. LUGARD.

Sir,

Messrs. D. and Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Co. to Sir F. May.

January 9, 1911. WE have the honour of acknowledging the receipt of your letter dated the 5th instant, and to thank you for the enclosures referred to therein,

With regard to Mr. Jamieson's letter of the 28th ultimo, re the seizure of two chests opium at Tsung-t'ong, the owner admitted all along that he was not in possession of a trading licence; but in view of the fact that he has been a trader in opium for the last ten years, that nothing was known in his district at the time as to the necessity of obtaining a licence, and that no licence was obtainable either at Loonginoon or Tsangsing.

Mr. Giles, the vice-consul at Canton, told Mr. Ellis that he would do his best for the dealer on our embodying the above facts in letter. We accordingly wrote to you in this sense on the 21st November last.

We fail to understand the consul-general's reference as to our not adducing further evidence on the matter. The facts of the case being as stated above, what other evidence is there to furnish?

[1897 dd-2]