CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 121

C.C.

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. 2663

RECE [January 24 JAN :3

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[95]

No. 1.

SECTION 3.

¡

Sir,

Messrs. E. D. and Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. to Foreign Office.-(Received January 1, 1913.)

17, St. Helen's Place, London, December 31, 1912. WE have the honour to refer to your letter of the 18th instant, in which you informed us that the President of the Chinese Republic and the Minister for Foreign Affairs had given to Sir John Jordan an assurance that the circular instructions of the 15th June, 1911, should be reissued under the President's authority. The value of this assurance can be best judged from the following telegrams received by us from

China :-

From Shanghai

"The presidential manifesto is very unsatisfactory. While laying stress upon the stoppage of cultivation, it does not instruct the provinces to adhere to the circular instructions of the 15th June last year as promised."

From Hong Kong :—–

1. "President's manifesto has further accentuated demoralised condition of market. Situation calls for immediate settlement."

2. " Delay in settlement jeopardises stocks in reference to fire insurance. Forced sales established very low prices. In case of fire, claims will be settled on basis of last sales."

3. "Canton papers have published the regulations drawn up by the commissioner of police, and approved by the tutu, for the total suppression of smoking. These will be enforced on the 1st January, and offenders will be punished according to the new Penal Code."

As you will see from the telegram last quoted, China's plans are so well matured that henceforth it will only be a police matter. In the meantime, the magistrates in some districts have ordered dealers to return their stocks to Shanghai, and as a result of the order some cheats of Indian opium have already been sent back to that port.

Of the stock in Shanghai, 4,364 chests have been duty paid for some considerable time, yet could not be disposed of, and the chests now returned from the provinces will beld to swell the number.

We have deemed it advisable to bring the above to your immediate notice, relying upon the assurance given in your letter of the 18th instant, that His Majesty's Government will do everything possible to bring about a prompt settlement of this extremely serious question with the Chinese Government.

With nothing achieved in China to ameliorate the existing state of affairs, the financial position both in China and India has become very acute, and will become even worse if the Government of India cannot be induced to at once suspend sales, and we beg that His Majesty's Government will urge the necessity for this upon the Indian Government,

We enclose, for your guidance, copy of a letter addressed by us yesterday to the India Office, which will show you the present position of affairs.

We have, &c.

E. D. SASSOON AND Co, (For David Sassoon and Co., Limited),

D. GIBBONS, Manager.

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