6
assumed to be distributed, in rough agreement with the present proportions, stated in Sir John Jordan's telegram of the 7th February, as 5,423 chests of Malwa and 4,690 chests of Bengal opium.
The Government of India's receipts in respect of the most recent issues of opium corresponding to these amounts were as follows:-
Bengal.
7
(2.)
From Viceroy, May 17, 1912.
Your telegram dated the 10th May. Sassoons and other opium merchants complain Canton authorities have imposed obstructive restrictions, demoralising dealers and dislocating trade. They ask steps should be taken to stop what they describe as perpetual violation Opium Agreement.
(Repeated to Peking.)
Malwa,
Date.
Chests.
Sale Receipts.
Cheste.
Government of India's Share of the Pase Duty.
Government of India'a Share of the Auction Price for Right of Export.
Grand Total.
Total.
1912-
Rupees.
Rupees.
Rupees.
Rupees.
Rupees.
April
670
35,52,000
35,52.000
May
670
37,21,700
37,21,700
June
670
25,98,500
July
670
81,09,430
Angust
670
September
670
October November December
670
1,835 87,48,550 1,328 86,46,125 85,15,275
12,01,500 11,95,200
14.90,263 26,91,768 16,22,387
28,17,587
25,98.500 58,01,213 65,66,187 36.46,125
85.15,275
Total
4,690
2,38,91,600
5,423
1,380 12,42,000 1,380 12,42,000
48,80,700
11,49,662
29,91,662
28,91,662
4,98,250 17,40,250
17,40,250
47,60,562
96,41,262
3,35,32,862
=2,235,5241.
(3.)
From Viceroy, May 30, 1912.
Our telegram dated the 17th May. Messrs. David Sassoon & Co., and other opium merchants complain that Chinese provincial authorities do not allow entry into China of Indian opium already purchased by Chinese merchants who consequently refuse buying more. Result is accumulation with Indian merchants who apprehend grave financial We consider that crisis, and request that immediate steps should be taken to avoid it. position has become now very serious.
(Repeated to Peking.)
(4.)
NOTE. In addition to the amounts received by the Government of India, the native States received a total amount of 423,8314 as their share of pass duty and auction price, on the Malwa opium iu question.
The present value, as stated, is therefore about 3,000,000l. in excess of the amounts received by the Government of India.
If the Government of India undid their bargains by paying over the above- mentioned receipts and taking back the opium, they would stand to lose a total sum not very much less than 2,000,000l., as the value of the opium to them would be little more than its cost of production, viz., about 400,0001. or 500,000
APPENDICES.
I.-Selected Telegrams referring to the proposal to suspend Opium Sales in
P.
From Secretary of State to Viceroy, Finance Department, June 3, 1912.
Please refer to your telegram dated the 30th May about opium. I quite realise seriousness of situation and am in communication with the Foreign Office. Sassoons have in the meantime urged through the Foreign Office that, in order that the present tension may be relieved, Bombay and Calcutta sales should be suspended. Please give this suggestion your consideration and do what
You can, you think proper.
I under- stand, discontinue sale of certified Bengal opium in any month if you
sell an equal additional quantity of uncertified opium.* With regard to Malwa opium I gather that opium merchants are deeply in debt to the banks and to Government see letter from Bombay Government to India Finance Department dated the 29th February, No. 2188, Revenue. Please consider whether it would not be wise to stop further sales of Malwa opium until the result of representations to China is known. The situation does not seem to me likely to improve very rapidly,
(5.)
(No. 120.) R.
June 1912.
(1.)
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.
Your telegram No. 86 of the 27th May: Opium.
Peking, May 29, 1912.
My despatch No. 234 of the 23rd May contains a full report. But all my representations have had no effect, and the Agreement of the 8th May, 1911, which worked admirably under Manchu régime, is now being openly violated.
Government here are probably unable to impose their will upon provinces, but in Since they returned the case of opium they no longer make any real effort to do so. here, delegates to Hague Conferences have sedulously spread idea that Great Britain is prepared to give China a free hand in work of opium suppression. To remove this your views impression it might be useful if you would communicate a statement of about recent violation of the Opium Agreement to Yuan Shih-kai through Chinese Minister in London.
As to smuggling of uncertificated opium please see my despatch No. 220, of the 9th May. The remedy seems to lie with Government of India.
P.
From Viceroy, June 6, 1912.†
Please see your telegram dated the 3rd June, on the subject of opium. We think it expedient to send you the complete text of the memorial from opium merchants together with our views, having in view the possible pressure which may be brought to bear by parties interested. Our latest information as to course of events in China is contained in despatch dated the 29th April from British Minister at Peking to Foreign Office. My telegram dated the 25th May, 1910, explains that our being unable to deal with likelihood of mischievous rumours places us in a difficult position. It is in our opinion of the highest importance that up-to-date information should be supplied to us throughout as to the situation in China, and regarding any representations which Jordan may make to the Imperial Government in China, and with regard to renewal of the cultivation of opium, which seems to have been extensive according to reports in the newspapers and Parliamentary questions. For instance, we have not received any official information in confirmation of a statement made by Sassoons in another telegram to the effect that appeals made by their representatives in China to Jordan have received the reply that every possible attempt has been made to cause the treaty to be
See, as to this, Sir J. Jordan's telegram of June 11 below. †The telegram also contained the text of the merchants' memorial, which is omitted here.
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