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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[32598]
No. 1.
(August 2.]
SECTION 1.
27
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 2.)
(No. 303.) Sir,
Peking, July 18, 1912. WITH reference to your telegram No. 110 of the 12th instant, instructing me to make a further strong protest against further restrictions on opium, as reported to me by a telegram from Messrs. Sassoon and Co. on the 9th instant, 1 have the honour to report that no such telegram has reached this legation. As, however, the reference is probably to a telegram received on the 8th instant from opium merchants in Shanghai, throngh His Majesty's consul-general, respecting restrictions on the trade in Indian opiumi in the province of Kiangsi, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of a memorandum which I addressed to the Wai-chiao Pu on the 13th instant.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Memorandum addressed to Wai-chiao Pu by Sir J. Jordan.
ON the 26th ultimo His Majesty's Minister addressed a memorandum to the Wai-chiao Pu requesting the immediate withdrawal of restrictions imposed on the trade in Indian opium in Kiangsi and Hunan, and enclosing copies of regulations drawn up and enforced in those provinces in violation of the terms of treaty and the Opium Agreement of the 8th May, 1911.
In reply to the protests of His Majesty's consul at Kiukiang the Tu-tu of Kiangsi asserts that these regulations apply only to native opium; but, in spite of this assurance the fact remains, as telegraphically reported by His Majesty's consul, that dealers are not allowed to convey Indian opium into the interior of Kiangsi.
As His Majesty's Minister has repeatedly pointed out, provincial authorities have no right to exclude Indiau opium from any part of a province which has not, in accordance with the provisions of the Opium Agreement, qualified for prohibition--a prohibition which must have the prior consent of the British Government--aud, as the transit of Indian opium into the interior is carefully provided for and regulated by the additional article to the Cheloo Agreement and is a treaty right, His Majesty's Minister must request the Wai-chiao Pu to at once instruct by telegraph the Tu-tu of Kiangsi to immediately withdraw all restrictions on the transit of Indian opium into the interior of that province, and refrain from further violation of treaties which of late would appear to have ceased to have any binding effect.
J. N. JORDAN.
Peking, July 13, 1912.
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