CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917 — Page 235

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL

231

[March 15.]

26626

SECTION 1.

RECE

No. L.

REA 23 MAY 1

[55708]

(No. 37.) Sir,

Mr. Alston to Mr. Balfour.--(Received March 15.)

Peking, January 24, 1917. WITH reference to Sir John Jordan's despatch No. 247, Confidential, of the 18th September last on the subject of opium, I have the honour to forward herewith translation of a note which I have received from the Wai-chiao Pu, informing me that it is proposed to hold a joint inspection of the provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, Kwangtung, Shensi, Yunnan, and Kweichow.

I had the honour to telegraph on the 22nd instant requesting instructions as to the reply which should be made to this note. In Sir John Jordan's despatch referred to, it was contemplated that the provinces of Kiangsu and Kiangsi, and later Kwangtung, would be carefully examined, and that the remaining unclosed provinces would be closed without examination, but I have had no recent indication of the wishes of the Indian Government in the matter.

In connection with this subject I enclose herewith copy of a memorandum by Mr. Ker, commercial attaché to this legation, giving the latest particulars available as to the position of opium stocks in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and describing the efforts that are being made by the opium merchants and certain Chinese politicians to conclude an agreement by which the Chinese Government would take over the balance of stocks remaining on the 31st March, 1917, the date on which the combine's agreement of the 1st May, 1916, expires. As indicated in the memorandum, I have not been approached by either of the parties to the proposed agreement. I have just learned privately, however, that the President is not in favour of the proposal, and that it is not likely to be carried into effect. According to this information, the price proposed for the transaction is 8,200 taels a chest. The idea is, I understand, that the Chinese Government should pretend that the opium is being taken over for medicinal purposes.

I shall be glad to receive early instructions as to the attitude to be adopted in regard to the eventual disposal of the stocks, should the provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, and Kwangtung be found free from the cultivation and import of native opium.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1.

I have, &c.

B. ALSTON.

Sir,

Wai-chiao Pu to Mfr. Alston.

Peking, January 19, 1917. AS in accordance with the original Anglo-Chinese arrangement for the yearly reduction of the import of Indian opium, the amount was decreased in 1911 to 30,600 chests, and was subsequently further reduced every year by 3,100 chests, the import has now in the present year been extinguished, and no more Indian opium should come to China.

The cultivation of opium in China itself has also been decreased in proportion to the reduction of import, and at the end of last year reports were received from Kiangsu, Kiangsi, Kwangtung, Shensi, Yünuan, and Kweichow stating that the planting of the poppy had been completely suppressed in those six provinces,

It is now my intention, in order to make known the success achieved by China in the matter of opium prohibition, to request your Excellency to depute officers to proceed to the said provinces and to examine them in company with deputies to be appointed by this Government, so that the matter may be placed beyond doubt,

When the dates for the joint investigations have been fixed in consultation with

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