CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 568

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districts around the provincial capital. A missionary eye-witness writes of one of these districts: the large plain was a sight not easy to forget. Wherever one looked the plant, much of it already in bloom, wus cut down. It took 600 men ten days to do this, and the estimated value (at present rates) of the crop on the plain, had it been allowed to ripen and be gathered, is something between 100,000 taels and 300,000 taels of silver" (from 15,000 to 45,000). Of another he or two places opium was in bloom, and that notwithstanding three visits (one from Says:** in one the magistrate and two from those under him). This was away from the main road.” In a more northerly district the efforts to uproot the poppy do not appear to have been thorough. The plant was reported growing everywhere; not a half had been uprooted, and the crop was nearly ready. Reports from a southern district announced the gathering of the opium harvest. In places where uprooting had taken place a little was left over, and the missionary was always given the same reply that this was. done to leave some seed for next season.

The same missionary, writing to the legation at a later date, stated that the poppy had been widely cultivated "in the districts around the provincial capital this season, but, on the whole, not so extensively made to suppress; this year's is probably more than, say, two years ago)."

as in former years (that is, before

efforts were any been cultivated very generally throughout the province.

It had also numerous to mention. On and near the main roads little or none was growing, but a The districts were too very great deal on smaller roads, Almost throughout the province the authorities were taking vigorous steps to uproot the poppy, soldiers being employed to enforce orders. It was not unlikely, however, that a considerable proportion of the opium would be gathered, as official action had come so late, but there was no doubt, he thought, that a big step towards suppression had been taken.

Kiangsu.

The recrudescence of cultivation on a very considerable scale is indicated by nearly all the reports received from this province. His Majesty's consul at Chinkiang, writing in the beginning of January, stated that the poppy fields in the northern districts were more extensive than ever. had remained a dead letter, and even the gentry were engaged in growing poppy. The A proclamation prohibiting cultivation had been issued, but news was confirmed by press correspondents who visited the province during the same month. In one district, which was referred to as having been among the largest opium producers in China ten years ago, not a single acre is said to have been under cultivation in 1909, while in the present year at least half the original area is reported as being given up to the poppy. A correspondent who had spent more than a month in another northern district stated that the poppy was being planted in larger quantities than had been the case for many years.

With the advance of the growing season, reports received from Kiangsu, while mentioning official efforts at suppression in certain districts, still tended to confirm the existence of considerable areas of poppy. Information regarding measures of repression was received from Chinkiang and Nanking. In both of these districts many fields had been uprooted; the poppy was no longer to be seen growing along the main roads or in the neighbourhood of large towns, and cultivation on a considerable scale had been confined to the outlying districts of the prefectures.

A report compiled by the representatives of a Shanghai opium firm, who spent three weeks in Northern Kiangsu, leads to the conclusion that a very large quantity of opium has been produced in such outlying districts during the present season, Within

a radius of 60 miles from Shanghai, two districts were found to be full of poppy. In one of these the villagers stated that the senior of their local headmen was himself a grower, but had on two occasions uprooted a few plants in order to show his zeal in the anti-opiumu cause, In the unfrequented districts round Nanking many miles of poppy fields were to be seen, and in one prefecture the area under cultivation was estimated at 30 square miles. Along the Kiangsu Honan and Kiangsu Shantung borders was seen growing in a large number of villages, while in the north-eastern corner of the poppy province the fields were said to extend for a distance of 50 miles without any attempt being made by the local officials to restrict cultivation,

Kansu.

During the present season three reports have been received from this remote province. The statements contained in the one dealing with the south of the province

are of so categorical a nature that I am not prepared to doubt their substantial accuracy. The report is in the form of a letter from a missionary who writes from Tsinchow as follows:-

"Kansu is covered with poppy from end to end. I was at Fukiang the other day, and there the very brick pits are planted, and graves are being reduced to the minimum size, in order that more seed may be sown. Here even the vegetable gardens are being SOWII, Officials are now out to see how much is being grown, in order to collect the tax on the land under poppy, The longer the delay the harder it will be for the people; if action is taken at once the autumn crops could be sown in place of opium. I expect that the crop has been already gathered at Husihsien and Chenghsien, as it is very early there, and a military official has guaranteed the harvest to the people, so rumour reports."

The two other reports deal with the western and central parts of the province and the information contained therein has been furnished by British missionaries Writing from Sining, the former reported extensive cultivation in Nienpai where but little poppy had been sown before the revolution. In the country round Sining itself there was some but not a great deal of the cultivation. It was explained that Kansu ia a poor province with a large military force to support and dependent on Government subsidies which have not been forthcoming since the revolution. The officials, therefore, regarded opium as a necessary source of revenue. Kansu, another missionary estimated that 70 per cent. of the prefecture was under Writing from Lanchow in central poppy and that the cultivation was extensive throughout the whole province. Official taxes were being levied on poppy fields, which were classed in three grades, at the rates of 25 dollars, 14 dollars, and 8 dollars per acre. He added that telegrams were being constantly received from Peking ordering the immediate destruction of the poppy. But the provincial treasurer was very badly in need of revenue and was contriving to postpone action until the opium should have been gathered in August. The tutu was on the point of departure and had done nothing.

Kuanglung.

Poppy growing in this province is confined to the eastern and north eastern corners, three districts of which were reported during March to be the scenes of extensive cultivation. Later information shows, however, that effective measures of suppression were taken by the authorities, resulting in at least one case in the complete destruction of the poppy crop and in the arrest of the farmers by whom it was being cultivated.

With regard to consumption of the drug, smoking without any attempt at concealment is reported from one district, while in another a number of shops are said to have been reopened and a slight recrudescence of smoking to be apparent. There is, nevertheless, reason to believe that the authorities continue in most cases vigorously to enforce the suppression laws, and it is significant in this connection that the fines for opium offences collected by the Swatow police during the March quarter amounted to the sum of 13,000 dollars.

Szechuan.

It will be remembered that this province was declared free of poppy and the importation of Indian opium was prohibited in August 1911.

Reports received from Szechuan during the present season are conflicting but tend to show that a distinct recrudescence of poppy cultivation has taken place.

The earliest information regarding the province emanated from Reuter's agent who telegraphed in January the news that in one district thousands of acres were under cultivation but that orders had been issued for its destruction. He at the same time reported serious fighting between farmers and troops who had been detailed for suppression duty.

Reports received during February referred only to the Eastern districts of the province. In these conscientious and determined efforts at suppression were being made by the officials. The measures adopted appeared to have been in most cases successful, in the face of serious difficulties occasioned by distance and popular opposition, and cultivation to have been confined to the mountainous districts of the border. Later information regarding Eastern Szechuan confirms the above view and leads to the conclusion that, with the exception of one district, poppy cultivation has been completely suppressed in this portion of the province.

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