2
to destroy all stocks of prepared opium within a term of five days and to desist from further storing or sale in the future; non-observance of this order within the term specified to be dealt with under section 266 of the New Penal Code. Reports should also be made to this office on the result of steps taken.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Memorandum.
HIS Britannic Majesty's consul-general presents his compliments to the tutu and would call his attention to certain instructions issued by the commissioner of police on or prior to 10th March, 1913, directing the destruction of stocks of opium held by prepared opium dealers.
Mr. Jamieson feels himself compelled to protest against the issue of these instructions in that they constitute an infringement of the spirit of the opium agreement of 1911 and are at variance with the telegraphic instructions sent by the Wai-wu Pu to the late Governor-General on the 15th June of that year. If the tutu will be good enough to refer to these instructions, of which a copy is herewith enclosed, be will find that they are explanatory of article 7 of the agreement, and that they specifically state :-—
"If in any province cultivation has not yet entirely ceased and there are still a large number of smokers, no forcible repressive measures must be taken in that province in respect of the trade in and movement of foreign or native opium."
Recent happenings in certain sections of this province go to show that cultivation of the poppy has not entirely ceased and Kuantung, therefore, comes within the scope of these instructions.
Mr. Jamieson accordingly hopes that the tutu will issue instructions to the commissioner of police to have his orders in the matter of destroying the stocks of the prepared opium dealers rescinded.
Canton, April 16, 1913.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[24577]
No. 1.
Note communicated to Portuguese Legation.
[June 2.]
SECTION 1.
THE Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the notes from the Portuguese Chargé d'Affaires of the 22nd and 23rd ultimo, respecting the proposed Anglo-Portuguese agreement in regard to the Macas-Hong Kong opium question.
Sir E. Grey regrets that His Majesty's Government are unable to agree to the terms of the additional article as amended in M. de Tovar's memorandum of the 23rd May, in which it was proposed that the agreement should be concluded for definite periods of five years, as in the opinion of His Majesty's Government the power of increasing the opium import, given in certain conditions by articles 5 and 6, leaves an element of uncertainty as to the amount of opium that will actually be required.
In order, however, to meet the wishes of the Portuguese Government in this matter as far as possible, His Majesty's Government are prepared to agree that the period of notice should be extended to twelve instead of six months, and Sir E. Grey hopes that with this concession the Portugueee Government will see their way to agreeing to the additional article as enclosed in his memorandum of the 21st ultimo, which would now run as follows:-
"The present agreement shall remain in force for a period of ten years, but be terminated by either Government at any time on giving to the other twelve months' may notice of its intention to do so. On the expiration of the said period of ten years it shall continue in force, unless and until a similar notice of termination is given by either Government."
Foreign Office, June 2, 1913.
[2965 b-1]
Fut
563
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.