CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 537

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there has never before been such a widespread and open cultivation of the poppy as I have seen for myself in the past few days.

The story I am told on the spot is this. Some time ago enquiry was made by the Chieh Yang magistrate, who thus learned that an extensive cultivation of poppy was going on, in particular in the lands belonging to the village of Ku Ch'i. He ordered that the crop should be rooted up, but, on the headmen pleading that a great deal of capital and labour had been put into the crop, he consented to spare it on condition of a payment of 2,000 dollars. Further enquiry brought out the fact that the three villages of Ch'ai Ch'iao, Lin Tou, and Kou Wef, in the same district, had a similar crop, and a further sum of 2,000 dollars was demanded from them. But in this case the headmen advised their villagers rather to root up the crop themselves, and this was accordingly done, with what degree of thoroughness I do not know. The ground under poppy in the Ku Ch'i villages was stated to me locally, by a rough estimate, as amounting to 400 or 500 mow, but I am not in a position to verify this estimate. I also saw poppy growing in places on the island formed by the north and south branches of the Chieh- Yang River.

I also saw poppy extensively grown in places in the Ch'ao Yang district. It is reported that in this district the cultivators have been warned with threats, and in some cases the people have been induced to destroy their crop. In particular, the village of Yang Wei, in this district, is said to have had a large crop, which was only partially destroyed.

As you will see, what I have said rests partly, particularly as regards places in the Ch'ao-yang district, on local report, but much of it I have seen for myself.

From my own observation I can state-

1. That a large crop of poppy is in blossom and reaching maturity in lands belonging to the Ku Ch'i and other villages in the Chich-yang district.

2. That all along the stream on which I was travelling for some days, from the village of Yü-p'u north-westerly to the point where it joins the south branch of the Chieh-yang River after passing Ku Ch'i, a distance of about 8 miles, the poppy crop in full bloom is, on both banks of the stream, a conspicuous feature of the landscape, without the slightest pretence of concealment. As this stream forms, I believe, fur

part of its course the boundary between Chieh-yang and Ch'ao-yang, it is evident that both these districts are concerned,

I have no wish to criticise unfairly the Chinese authorities in regard to what I know must constitute for them a difficult task. But I think it right to let you know these facts, to be used or otherwise at your discretion. I am satisfied from the statements made to me that this open disregard of the orders of the higher authorities is being permitted in the Chieh-yang district for a consideration which can hardly be otherwise than corrupt, as it is not credible that the 2,000 dollars alleged to have been extorted can have been permitted to appear in the public accounts.

1 am,

&c. J. CAMPBELL GIBSON.

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[16265]

No. 1.

[April 14.]

SECTION 3.

Sir A. Johnstone to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received April 14.)

(No. 34. Treaty.) Sir,

The Hague, April 9, 1914. WITH reference to your despatch No. 14, Treaty, of the 31st ultimo, I have the honour to report that I signed the International Opium Convention of 1912 on the 4th instant on behalf of the colony of Barbados.

I have further the honour to report, with reference to your despatch No. 17, Treaty, of the 4th instant, that on the 8th instant I signed the said Convention on behalf of Mauritius (Ile de France) and its dependencies.

I have, &c.

[2103 0-3]

'

ALAN JOHNSTONE.

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