CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 350

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

OPIUM.

C O 10339

CONFIDENTIAL.

[15200]

13 MAY 11

No. 1.

346

[April 24.]

SECTION 4.

(No. 144.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received April 24.)

Peking, April 4, 1911. WITH reference to your telegram No. 55 of the 13th March and subsequent telegraphic correspondence, I have the honour to enclose the copies of correspondence which has passed between His Majesty's Legation and the Chinese Government relative to the thirty-six chests of opium which were detained at Samshui in transit for Kiangsi.

As reported in my telegram No. 84 of the 27th March the opium in question has been released, and I trust therefore that this particular case is disposed of The enclosed despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Canton explained that the opium was temporarily detained for the purpose of verifying the documents which accompanied it, and was released when this had been done. But this information was subsequently corrected in a telegram dated the 21st March which reported the continued detention of the opium, and it was not until I made a further appeal to the Wai-wu Pu that the consignment was finally released.

The question of the further seizures alleged by Messrs. Sassoon to have been effected at Canton is also dealt with in Mr. Jamieson's despatch. So far as can be ascertained there has been no other case at Canton which would properly for the subject of complaint to the Chinese authorities.

As regards Amoy I am not satisfied as to all the facts, and am in communication with His Majesty's consul on the subject.

I may add that, besides the written communications which I have addressed to the Chinese Government, I have made repeated verbal representations relative to the restrictions at Canton during the course of the opium negotiations, and that his Excellency Na Tung gave me assurances that the Viceroy had been ordered to desist from these practices, instructions which, there is reason to believe, have not been observed.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

I have, &c.

J. N. JORDAN,

Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ch'ing.

Your Highness,

Peking, March 15, 1911. THE action of the Cantou provincial authorities in interfering contrary to the treaties with the transport of Indian opium under transit pass has formed the subject of repeated protests by this legation in the past.

I am now in receipt of telegrams both from His Majesty's Government and from His Majesty's consul-general at Canton regarding a further instance of the detention by the Opium Prohibition Bureau of thirty-six chests of Indian opium while being conveyed from Canton to Kiangsi under transit pass.

I need hardly point out to your Highness how prejudicial these repeated breaches of treaty by the Canton authorities are to the negotiations at present proceeding between our two Governments, and I have the honour to ask that telegraphic instructions may be sent to the Viceroy at Canton to release the opium in question without delay.

I avail, &c.

J. N. JORDAN.

[1973

{