CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 248

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government) 247

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[38131]

No. 1.

[August 18.]

SECTION 1.

Mr. Alston to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received August 18.)

(No. 308.) Sir,

Peking, August 3, 1913. REFERRING to the despatches from this legation, Nos. 231 and 260 of the 4th and 27th June respectively, I have the honour to enclose copy of correspondence with the Wai-chiao Pu relative to the placing of Chekiang on the list of provinces into which Indian opium shall not be conveyed, together with copies of opium reports received from His Majesty's consulates at Ningpo and Hangchow,

The reports show on missionary evidence that a large measure of success appears to have attended the efforts to suppress the import and cultivation of native opiuin, but they do not conclusively bear out the contention of the Wai-chiao Pu that the province had absolutely cleared itself of native opium, notably in the Wenchow districts. In my despatch No. 260 I stated also that His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai had reported on the 12th June that the new season of Chekiang opium was then on market. It will be remembered that last year Chekiang constituted itself the leader of the provincial movement against the legitimate trade in Indian opium, and many instances of serious infringements of the Opium Treaties have been recorded; not content, moreover, with putting every possible restriction against the trade in Indian opium, the Chekiang authorities sent a circular telegram to other provinces calling upon them to follow its lead.

I have informed the Wai-chiao Pu that am unable to place Chekiang on the prohibition list forthwith, but am ready, in accordance with article 4 of the 1911 Agreement, to arrange for a joint inspection of the conditions of opium cultivation and importation next spring on the lines of the joint inspections carried out in Shantung, Aubui, and Hunan this year.

I have, &c.

B. ALSTON.

Tme

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Wai-chiao Pu to Mr. Alston.

WITH reference to the prohibition of Indian opium into the provinces of Fukien and Chekiang, the Wai-chiao Pu had the honour to receive during last month on more those provinces had than one occasion memos stating that the British consuls been instructed to send up reports on the subject, and that on their receipt a reply would be sent to the Ministry.

At the time the Wai-chiao Pu telegraphed to the tutus, Civil Governors, and of various anti-opium associatious, and have since received enquiries (as to the progress negotiations) from the said tutus and Civil Governors. A letter has further been received from the General Anti-Opium Association of Fukien (literally, association for the removal of the poison) declaring that complete success has been attained as regards the prohibition of cultivation in the province, and that this has been recognised by the British consul at Amoy, who has reported in this sense to the British Government. The association beseeches the Ministry to request the British Minister at Peking to prohibit the import of Indian opium into Fukien, in order that the agreement between the two countries may be complied with, and sends to the Ministry a copy of the reply received from the British consul at Amoy.

The Wai-chiao Pu has the honour to observe that the British consuls in Fukien and Chekiang have investigated the conditions in those provinces, and reckons that by this time replies must have been received (at His Majesty's Legation). It has the honour to enclose copy of the reply of His Majesty's consul at Amoy for Mr. Alston's perusal, and to request him to reply at an early date, as well as to consent to the

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