CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 369

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In regard to the eight packages illegally seized by the Kiukiang station Li-kin office, Sir John Jordan would point out that the tutu's plea of smuggling native opium has not been put forward before. On the 15th November-that is to say, three months after the illegal seizure-the tutu had presumably no cognisance thereof. More than five months have now elapsed since the seizure, and, on the tutu's own showing, no settlement of the case has been made.

In regard to the Ta'ai Cheng case, Sir John Jordan would observe that the consul complained to the tutu of this illicit seizure four months ago. The Wai-chiao Pu quote the tutu as having sent instructions to conclude the trial according to the regulations. If the instructions have been obeyed, the regulations must indeed be extraordinary which order the enforced sale of foreign goods seized by the authorities in direct contravention of the treaties and then deny the proceeds to the owners, while the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs professes ignorance of the circumstances.

Sir John Jordan muat repeat his demand for the instant release of the twelve packages in the Sheng Sheng Ho case and of the eight packages seized at the Kiukiang station Li-kin office. He must also demand the indemnification of the

owners for the value of the sixty packages of Malwa opium illegally seized by the district magistrate of Ch'ang-ning, and now reported to have been sold.

Sir John Jordan repeats that the seizures are a flagrant breach of China's treaty obligations to Great Britain.

Peking, February 12, 1913.

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[10520]

No. 1.

RECO

12296

[REG12 APR 13

[March 6.]

SECTION 3.

India Ofice to Foreign Office.—(Rrecived March 6.)

Sir,

India Office, March 5, 1913. IN reply to your letter of the 13th February, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to inform you, for the information of Sir Edward Grey, that, having consulted the Government of India, his Lordship concurs in the proposal to accept the invitation of the Netherlands Government to a discussion of the question of the ratification of the International Opium Convention, and to appoint as delegates Mr. Max Müller and Sir W. Collins.

I am to add, in reply to the penultimate paragraph of your letter, that his Lordship does not regard the non-adherence of Turkey and the other countries specified as likely to have any practical effect on Indian interests.

I am, &c.

T. W. HOLDERNESS.

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[2850 ƒ-3]