[This Document is the Property. His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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[B]
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OPIUM.
REC2
&
REG 16 JUN 11
CONFIDENTIAL.
[20185]
No. 1.
(No. 205.) Sir,
[May 26.]
SECTION 2.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received May 26.)
Peking, May 11, 1911. IN continuation of my despatch No. 199 of the 8th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, in translation, copy of an Imperial decree which was issued on the 9th instant giving effect to the new Opium Agreement.
After stating that a period of ten years was originally fixed for the eradication of such a long-standing and deep-seated evil, the decree points out that under the agreement now concluded with Great Britain the import of foreign opinm will cease at any time within the unexpired limit of seven years in the event of the complete extinction of the native cultivation, and it urges that every effort should be made to fulfil this condition and bring about total abolition at the earliest possible moment.
The arrangement with regard to total extinction and prohibition by provinces is pronounced to be entirely satisfactory.
The decree explicitly orders that all the restrictions and taxation imposed by the provinces on the wholesale trade in foreign opium shall be immediately withdrawn, and the anticipation expressed in my previous despatch on this subject has thus been fully realised.
The new rates of enhanced taxation are explained to be merely a temporary expedient to meet the financial exigencies of the moment, but the Throne expressly disclaims all intention of relying upon this taxation as a permanent source of revenue. Renewed orders are given for the more effective regulation of the production, the smoking and the transport of opium, and the decree concludes with an acknowledgment of the kind assistance of a friendly Power.
It was agreed between myself and the Wai-wu Pu that the equivalent excise duty upon native opium provided for in article 6 of the agreement should be fixed at 230 taels per 100 catties, and that this tax should be enforced simultaneously with the collection of the new duty on foreign opium, by an Imperial rescript, copy of which was to be furnished to me.
I have now the honour to enclose a copy of this rescript, together with a copy of the memorial which the Ministry of Finance submitted to the Throne on the subject.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
(Translation.)
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Extract from the "Gazette" of May 9, 1911.
OPIUM AGREEMENT.
ON the 9th instant the Cabinet received the following edict by the Prince Regent
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The Wai-wu Pu has submitted to us a copy of the new agreement relating to the prohibition of opium.
With a view to the prohibition of the use of opium a period of ten years was originally fixed for gradual reduction, as, owing to the evil being of long standing and deep seated, it was necessary to allow a lengthy time-limit in order to make sure that. the root should be killed and the source dried up. But with a view to protecting the people from harm, every effort should at the same time be made to bring about abolition as speedily as possible in order to obtain success at the earliest moment and remove the deadly ill once and for all.
According to the report submitted this day by the Wai-wu Pu, the first period of three years in the scheme of prohibition being completed, a new agreement has been concluded with the British Minister at Peking providing that, in the event of the complete extinction of the native drug at any time within the unexpired period of
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