CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 291

2

further discussion on the wording of the Bill ensued, and it was finally agreed to refer the Bill back to committee for revision.

Since that date no further mention of the subject of opium has appeared in the minutes of the council's sessions, but it is understood that the question is to form the subject of further discussion at an early date.

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

I have, &c.

[43731]

J. N. JORDAN.

(No. 395.) Sir,

C.O.

37169

[October 18.]

RECO (REG:25 NOV 12

SECTION 3.

No. 1.

253

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey-(Received October 18.)

Peking, October 2, 1912. WITH reference to my despatch No. 365 of the 9th ultimo regarding the restrictions on the trade in Indian opium in the province of Kiangsi, I have the honour to submit to you herewith, in translation, a copy of a memorandum which I received from the Wai-chiao Pu on the 17th ultimo, embodying a telegram from the tutu and upholding the latter's action, together with a copy of my reply.

I have also the honour to enclose a copy of a despatch which I have received from the acting British consul at Kiukiang on the same subject, together with my reply instructing him to continue to press every infringement of the Opium Agreement on the attention of the tutu.

I have, &c.

J. N. JORDAN.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Note communicated to Sir J. Jordan by Wai-chiao Pu.

THE Wai-Chiao Pu have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of His Majesty's Minister's memorandum of the 5th September, enumerating the breaches of the Opium Agreement of last year by the officials of Kiangsi province, and quoting the two cases of confiscation of opium imported by the Yüeh Yü firm of Ting-nan, and the Sheng Sheng Ho firm of Nanchang, as flagrant violations of the additional article to the Chefoo Convention. Sir John Jordan requested that telegraphic instructions should be sent to the Tutu of Kiangsi requiring him to issue a notification that the new regulations did not apply to Indian opium, and directing him to release the opium dealers referred to and to return to them the fines and the opium.

This Ministry at once communicated by telegraph with the Tutu of Kiangsi, from whom the following reply has now been received:--

66

The new anti-opium regulations in this province exercise a firm control over Chinese opium, but it is also necessary in like manner to control the retail trade in Indian opium, in accordance with the provision of the Opium Agreement empowering China to regulate the retail trade in the drug. As regards the two cases of the Yüeh Yü and the Sheng Sheng Ho firms, the parties in question were selling opium secretly in defiance of the regulations; and they were, moreover, carrying arms and ammunition, which is a criminal offence, and it is necessary that they should be severely punished. The British consul wrote asking for their release, but as I regarded the question as one affecting the internal administration of the country I did not comply with his request.'

The Wai-chiao Pu would observe, with regard to the restrictions on opium in Kiangsi, that they have repeatedly telegraphed to the tntu of that province in the terms of Sir John Jordan's memorandum, instructing him to conform his action to the treaties. As to the cases of the Yüeh Yu and Sheng Sheng Ho firms, inasmuch as the telegram from the tutu states that the merchants in question were selling opium secretly in defiance of the regulations, and were, moreover, found to be in possession of contraband arms and ammunition, the parties must, of course, be punished according to law, and orders cannot be summarily given for their release.

September 17, 1912.

[2660 s-3]