CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 579

statement contains to the contrary, arrived at its destination in the interior. They appear to have informed the legation that the drug was still their property.

I have, &c.

A. J. SUNDIUS.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

Mr. Clementi to Consul Sundius.

Sir,

3

Enclosure 5 in No. 1.

Mr. Clementi to Consul Sundius.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, February 24, 1911.

I AM directed to forward copy of a joint communication from Messrs David and E. D. Sassoon, dated the 23rd February, with reference to my letter of the 10th idem.

I am,

&c.

G. CLEMENTI, Colonial Secretary.

Sir,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, February 10, 1911.

I AM directed to forward for your information the enclosed memorandum which was handed to me by a representative of Messrs E. D. Sassoon and Co., on the 10th instant, and to request you to be good enough to enquire into the circumstances of the seizure of these thirteen chests of Indian opium, and, if the facts are as stated, protest against the seizure.

I am, &c. (In the absence of a Colonial Secretary),

G. CLEMENTI

Enclosure 3 in No. 1.

Sir,

Enclosure 6 in No. 1.

Messrs. David and Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Co. to Mr. Clementi.

AS we understand that you have as yet received no reply from (sic) His Britannic

Hong Kong, February 23, 1911. Majesty's consul at Amoy with regard to the seizure of the three chests of Bengal opium and ten chests Malwa opium in the district of Wing Ting, we shall be much obliged if you will be good enough to urge the cousul to press the Chinese officials to restore the opium to the owner as speedily as possible.

We have, &c.

DAVID SASSOON AND Co. E. D. SASSOON AND Co.

Memorandum.

THE country people in the district of Wing Ting, in the prefecture of Ting Chon, Fukhien province, seized, on the 19th day of the 12th moon (ie., 19th January), three chests Bengal opium and ten chests Malwa opium shipped from Hong Kong to Amoy. The owner has protested to the magistrate of Wing Ting, with whom the opium is now held, but he has received no redress. The opium had the usual customs transit certificate-duty and li-kin having been paid in Amoy. Moreover, the owner had trading licences. The opium was seized not by the officials on account of any infraction of the laws of the province, but by the anti-opiumists, who handed the opium to the magistrate.

The name of the owner is:

(Sic in orig.) Mr. Kong Shau Sun, of Messrs. Nam Mi Shop. Hong Kong, February 10, 1911.

(Translation.) Dear Sir,

Enclosure 4 in No. 1.

Note by Ho Taotai.

1st month, 19th day (February 17, 1911). ON the 17th of the first month I had the honour to receive your despatch to the effect that the foreign firm of Sassoon and Co. at Hong Kong had sold thirteen chests of opium to the firm of Nan Mei at Amoy, that this latter firm paid the duties and took the stuff under pass to Yung Ting Hsien, where it was seized by the Opium Abolition Society, and handed over to the magistrate. You request me to order him to release it.

I have instructed the Yung Ting magistrate to make a thorough investigation of the circumstances, and report to the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, who will deal with the matter and reply to your despatch.

Compliments.

(Card of Ho Taotai).

Enclosure 7 in No, 1.

Consul Sundius to Acting Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.

Sir,

Amoy, March 2, 1911. I BEG to acknowledge the receipt of your two communications of the 10th and 24th ultimo having reference to the alleged seizure at Yung Ting Hsien of opium sold by Messrs. Sassoon & Co. to the native merchant.

On receipt of the first of your letters I communicated with the Chang Chou taotai, in whose jurisdiction Yung Ting Hsien lies, demanding that the drug be released, and in due course received that official's reply to the effect that he had directed the magistrate of the district in question to report on the matter to the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs at Foochow who would reply to my despatch.

I have again written to the Chang Chou taotai to the effect that there was no good purpose served by bringing in other authorities and thus delaying matters and reiterating my request that the goods be released forthwith. I have also addressed the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs in the same sense.

From the fact that the highest local authority declined without delay to deal with the matter personally and shifted the responsibility on to the provincial Government, I am of opinion that this action on the part of the Opium Abolition Society and the magistrate is due to inspiration from head-quarters, and that further local correspondence will only be useful as a reminder that such action is protested against. The matter will have to be referred to Peking, but prior to my sending the case for treatment by His Majesty's Minister, I must await a communication from the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, in order that I may know what line he is taking in justification of this apparently high-handed procedure.

At the same time I may mention that the seizure was effected, not by the peasantry, but by the local representatives of a widespread association, having its head-quarters in Peking, with branches and sub-branches throughout the whole Empire. The organisation has the approval of the central Government, and has as its chief a member of the Imperial Family with the title of "Chin Yen Ta Ch'en." The object of the association is the absolute suppression of the opium habit, and from the information at my disposal it appears to be setting about its work whole-heartedly without any

ulterior motive. Private supplies of opium are confiscated, and smokers are punished irrespective of their position. The cultivation of the poppy is rigorously

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