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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[February 5.]
SECTION 3.
[7016]
No. 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, February 5, 1913.
Sir J. D. Rees-To ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether information acquired regarding the recent extension of, and rise in, the cultivation of Chinese opium is compatible with the agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of China; whether His Majesty's Government has power to ensure the sale of Indian opium in Chinese provinces into which by treaty China is bound to allow its entry; whether His Majesty's Government will permit the ousting of Indian opium in order that the more injurious indigenous product may be substituted therefor; whether His Majesty's Government believes that any useful result can be obtained by the execution of innocent peasants for using a stimulant; what effect the approaching cessation of the provision of Indian opium for China will have upon Indian finances; and whether the time has arrived to reconsider the arrangements made in 1911.
Answer by Mr. Acland (for Sir E. Grey).
The information regarding this season's cultivation of opium in China is conflicting, and further enquiries are being made in the several provinces through the consular officers in co-operation with the local officials. There has been a very large reduction of cultivation in China since the opium agreement with His Majesty's Government was inade. In provinces not closed to Indian opium under article 3 of the agreement of May 1911, His Majesty's Government are entitled to require that the wholesale trade shall not be interfered with, nor preference shown to native opium. As I have more than ouce stated, Chinese methods of dealing with their own people are not a matter for His Majesty's Government. The effect of the suspension of the Indo-Chinese opium export trade on the finances of India is engaging the attention of the Government of India. I understand that no statement is at present possible, but the question is one for the India Office. The last question is, in His Majesty's Govern- ment's opinion, premature,
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