CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 13

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opium into China, without waiting for China to complete her part, for it will be seen from a separate despatch, in which I am summarising recent reports as to cultivation in the provinces, that in many parts of the country, however sincere may be the policy of the Chinese Government, opium is still being extensively cultivated.

It seems hardly necessary at this stage to study in detail the modifications which a revision of the agreement on the lines proposed would entail, but I may briefly indicate the articles which at first sight seem to me to be necessary to retain.

Articles 1 and 2 would be replaced by a declaration of the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the conditional cessation of the export from India to China.

Article 3 would remain; but the second paragraph would have to be modified in such a way as to make it clear that until the existing stocks are absorbed, the provinces of Kwantung and Kiangsu cannot be closed to the conveyance of Indian opium. The premature closing of these provinces would destroy all chance of clearing the stocks at Hong Kong and Shanghai. As the wording of the article clearly shows the closure of Canton and Shanghai was to be the final step in the programme of opium suppression, and it is therefore only reasonable to insist that it should not be entertained until cultivation is stopped in provinces like Kansu, Yünnan, and Kueichow.

Article 4 should remain. As I said in my despatch No. 166 of the 24th ultimo, our continued co-operation in investigating the cultivation of opium in the provinces may be looked upon as a moral duty which we owe to the Chinese Government. It is, in my opinion, the only effectual method of securing the object which both Govern- ments have steadily kept in view since 1906-the extinction of the Indian trade concurrently with the suppression of cultivation in China.

Article 5 would be unnecessary.

Article 6 would remain. Opium does not pay duty until it is released from bond, and the existing stocks would still pay on the scale prescribed by the agreement.

Article 7 would also have to remain until the stocks are cleared.

Article 8 would have to be modified in accordance with the altered conditions.

I have, &c.

J. N. JORDAN.

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The question has not failed to attract considerable attention, and such bodies as the British Anti-Opium Society, the International Reform Bureau, and the Chinese National Anti-Opium Society all take the lead in recommending abrogation of the agreement, while the missionary body and the press, all without exception, lend their support.

Now the 9th article of the Opium Agreement of 1911 reads as follows :-

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Should it appear on subsequent experience desirable at any time during the unexpired period of seven years to modify this agreement or any part thereof, it may be revised by mutual consent of the two high contracting parties."

And in view of the fact that, owing to the change in the present conditions affecting opium suppression in China as compared with those prevailing several years ago, a great part of the agreement has ceased to be applicable, it becomes necessary to raise the question of its revision in order to promote progress and satisfy public opinion.

The Wai-chiao Pu accordingly has the honour to request His Majesty's Minister to move His Majesty's Government to consent to the revision of the said agreement, and to beg him for an early and favourable reply.

(Seal of Minister for Foreign Affairs.)

May 7, 1913.

Enclosure in No. 1.

(Translation.)

Wai-chiao Pu to Sir J. Jordan.

THE conspicuous success obtained by China in effecting the suppression of opium is now a matter of common knowledge to Chinese and foreigners alike, and since the change of government the tutus of the various provinces have made still further progress with strict and effective measures of prohibition.

The provinces of Chihli and Kuangsi having given clear proof of the suppression of cultivation, smoking, and import from neighbouring provinces, the cessation of the import of Indian opium into these provinces was arranged with His Majesty's Minister, while joint investigation by Chinese and British officials is now in progress in Hunan and other provinces, on the completion of which these provinces also can be dealt with in accordance with the agreement.

Thus the provinces into which the import of Indian opium has ceased already amount to one-half of the total number, and as regards the remainder, although the import of Indian opium is still permitted, the number of smokers therein decreases daily, and the Indian drug is difficult to dispose of.

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Recently, as in the case of Fukien, troops have been frequently employed to up the opium crops and men's lives have not been spared in the effort to eradicate the poison. Of these facts His Majesty's Minister is no doubt fully aware.

It is understood that the Indian Government has already published orders suspending the sales of [?] Malwa opium from the month of April and of Bombay opium from the month of May, and it has been said that this may be regarded as the beginning of the end of the Indian opium trade with China. Such an event would certainly be the greatest boon to both countries.

Of late Chinese and foreigners alike have expressed approval of the method of opium suppression adopted by the provinces, but they recognise that unless the import of Indian opium is prohibited, it will be very difficult to obtain complete success, and so they suggest complete prohibition and urge the abrogation of the agreement-in letters and telegrams innumerable.

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