CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914 — Page 545

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[May 4.]

SECTION 1,

(19650]

(No. 158)

No. 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received May 4.)

Sir,

Peking, April 20, 1914. WITH reference to my despatch No. 20 of the 17th January last, I have the honour to report that the investigation of Fukien for opium poppy cultivation, in accordance with the provisions of the Opium Agreement of May 1911, has been completed, and that the province has been found to be practically cleared of poppy growth. I have the honour to enclose herewith copy of two reports by the investigating officers, Mr. Consular Assistant Blackburn, for North Fukien, and Mr. Consular Assistant Turner, for South Fukien. These gentlemen travelled in their respective districts in company with the Chinese metropolitan and provincial delegates, and both of them speak in appreciation of the co-operation of their Chinese colleagues in the work of investigation.

While it is satisfactory to know that the province has been cleared of poppy cultivation, it must be noted that this result has only been achieved by an extensive and drastic system of suppression on the part of the Chinese authorities. Without such official suppression which in some instances preceded the investigation party's visit by a few days, or even a few hours only a far different story would have been told by the reports, and it would he rash to prophesy that the effects of this spasmodic and special suppression will continue into the next season.

The terms of the agreement are, however, fulfilled, and I have therefore notified the Chinese Government that the importation of Indian opium into the province of Fukien will be prohibited as from the 1st May, 1914. I have the honour to enclose copy of my despatch to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I have, &c.

J. N. JORDAN.

Sir,

in

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

Mr. Blackburn to Sir J. Jordan.

March 21, 1914.

I HAVE the honour to report that, in accordance with the instructions contained your despatch of the 31st January, I have, in company with Mr. Yeh K'o-liang, deputy of the Central Government, and Mr. Chen Shou-hsiang, deputy of the Fukien Provincial Government, made a tour of investigation in the north of this province, and that, as far as I have been able to ascertain, the cultivation of the opium poppy has been entirely suppressed.

There being no information in the possession of the consulate which would lead me to suspect that opium was being cultivated in any particular place, I arranged my itinerary so as to visit the largest number of the most notorious opium-growing centres with the least waste of time, though I was subsequently compelled to modify to some extent my original route owing to the limited time at my disposal, the extremely difficult nature of the country traversed, and the inclemency of the weather. The roads are all paved paths 2 feet to 4 feet broad, carried over the mountains by steps, which after rain become so slippery that it is only possible to move slowly when it is possible to travel at all.

I left Foochow on the 17th February, commencing my investigations from Kuant'ou, on the Min River, when I proceeded northwards, visiting in succession the following districts: Lien Chiang, Lo Yuan, Ning Tê, Fu An, Fu Ning, Shou Ning, Cheng Ho, Sung Ch'i, and Chien Ou (Kienning). From Kienning I took boat and returned by river, visiting Yan Ping district en route, and arriving in Foochow on the 19th March. I have the honour to make the following observations in connection with the various districts I visited :--

Lien Chiang was formerly a large opium-producing centre, but is now almost entirely under wheat, rape, and rice. The inissionaries did not report any opium here

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