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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[April 6,
Re
SECTION
248
3 MAY 12
[14448]
No. 1.
(No. 129.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 6.)
Peking, March 18, 1912. WITH reference to my despatch No. 110 of the 6th instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith, in translation, copy of a notification on the subject of opiun of Nanking Government Gazette by President Sun Yat-sen, which appeared in the " the 2nd instant, together with the text of instructions to the Ministry of the Interior, referred to therein, published in the Gazette of the 6th instant, and of an order by President Yuan Shih-kai, dated the 14th instant, in which his Excellency states that, since the outbreak of the revolution, the restrictions in regard to opium have been somewhat relaxed, and that the high officials will be held responsible for the enforcement of the measures hitherto taken for restricting the cultivation, transport, and consumption of the drug. The order commands the issue of proclamations, making it clear that the abolition of opium is intended to save the people and free them from a grievous danger, and makes an appeal to the whole nation to regard opium as a deadly poison, whose suppression should not be overlooked for the sake of a temporary gain.
I have also the honour to enclose a copy of a leading article from to-day's issue of the "Peking Daily News" on the subject of opium suppression. The presidential order of the 14th instant is the text on which it is based, and it recalls the fact that Yuan Shih-kai and Tang Shao-yi, now President and Premier of the Republic of China, were the initiators of the anti-opium crusade, and predicts that they will not rest satisfied until they have finally and completely accomplished their task.
It must, however, be borne in mind that the orders of the new Government can have little effect in opium-producing provinces like Yünnan and Szechuan, which are at present for all practical purposes independent administrations.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Extract from "Nanking Government Gazette" of March 2, 1912.
OPIUM NOTIFICATION BY PRESIDENT SUN YAT-SEN.
IT is now some hundred years since the opium evil took its hold on China, and since then its baneful influences have spread through rich and poor alike over the whole nation, bringing in their train loss of possessions, waste of time and money and debility of body. The opium habit would not stop short of total destruction of the race, and its danger is much worse than that from an armed enemy, though In the last years of the late those who are addicted to it will not recognise this. dynasty the danger was perceived, restrictions were placed on the cultivation of the drug, and taxes imposed on the prepared drug in the endeavour to remove this The Govern- for previous errors. grievous blot from the history of China and make
up ment was ably supported by the different societies for public amelioration, which led on the people to abandon the vicious habit and supplemented the Government's efforts, where the latter fell short, and consequently considerable progress was made, the evil gradually growing less.
The inauguration of the republic is a signal for a special burst of zeal and energy, and unless we can make a strenuous effort and absolutely eradicate the disease which is eating out our vitals, how can we hope for success even from the most brilliant of administrations or excellent of policies? Wherefore it is my bounden duty to notify the nation at large that the responsibility rests on all from highest to lowest of It needs only that every individual should protecting their country and their homes.
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