CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917 — Page 315

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lupin seed. The plant is known as Ch'ing (the character is not to be found in a dictionary). Mr. Meu Chia-ye. the delegate of the Ministry of the Interior, said that he knew the plant, which is grown extensively in Shantung (his native province) and used as an inferior substitute for hemp. The matter has, understand, been reported to you by His Majesty's consuls at Nanking and Chinkiang. it seems evident that the reports and the scattering of the seeds represent an organised movement undertaken with malicious intent, though the idea of anyone giving credence to tales of opium being sown in the latter part of May seems sufficiently ridiculous.

Mention should also perhaps be made of the prolonged drought from which the northern part of the province was suffering when I was there. Scarcely any rain had fallen for eight months; there had been no snow in the winter; and throughout the Hsüchow and Haichow prefectures the wheat was deplorably poor and backward. Unless rain has since fallen, it is to be feared that an extensive area will be afflicted with famine this year. Incidentally the drought has facilitated the suppression of opium, even had any been sown it is doubtful whether the crop would have matured,

In conclusion I would beg to express my keen appreciation of the kindness, courtesy, and consideration which I uniformly received from all my Chinese colleagues, who did all they could to render a tedious and tiring journey as comfortable and agreeable as ossible for ine.

(Translation.) Sir,

I have, &c.

W. STARK TOLLER.

Enclosure 12 in No. 1.

Wai-chiao Pu to Mr. Alston.

Peking, April 27, 1917. WITH reference to this year's joint inspection of opium cultivation, I have the honour to inform you that I received the following telegram from the Military and Civil Governors of Kiangai on the 25th instant:-

"Chien Kuang Hsi and Huang Chao Hsiung, the deputies sent by the Ministries, the British cousul, Mr. Brown, and the provincial delegates, Wang Nien Tzu, and others, who were appointed for the joint inspection of opium cultivation in Khansi, arrived at the provincial capital on the 29th March. They first visited the high country and went from the district of the southern Taoyin to the eastern and then to the northern Taovins' districts. They travelled up and down bills and along streams and visited all the district magistracies. Boats and carts were prepared for their use and servants were supplied, whilst instructions for their protection were given to the police and military along the route. They returned to Nanchang on the 22nd April and reported that they had searched in every direction but had found no trace of poppy, and that although they had made enquiries along all the roads they had not heard of a single stalk or leaf. They admitted, therefore, that the entire province had been cleared of the plant. The British consul expressed thanks for the courteous treatment accorded to him and returned to Kiukiang on the 24th iustaut, and the deputies from the Ministries, Chien Kuang isi and Huang Chao Hsiung, returned to Peking.

LE

'The prohibition of the cultivation of opium has been in force in Khangsi for many years. Every winter and spring the district magistrates are ordered to take effective steps for its suppression, and from time to time troops are sent to assist :hem therewith. On several occasions also officials have been sent to encourage and warn the eighty-one district magistrates to greater efforts, and in the last two years the eradication of opium has been completed.

"In the present instance the deputies from the Ministries and the British consul have conducted their joint investigation by land and water. Their journey covered a distance of over 2,000 li and lasted more than a month. They have now happily completed their labours, and we have the honour to send you a preliminary notification by telegraph."

Mr. Chien Kuang Hsi, the deputy from this Ministry, has also telegraphed in the above sense, and I have the honour to inform you accordingly,

I also have the honour to inform you that the deputies appointed by the Wai-chino Pu and the Ministry of the Interior for the inspection of Kiangsu have left Peking, and

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that a

telegram has been received from the Governor of Kiangsu stating that the province is sending the expectant Taoyin, Mr. Yi Shou Chang, as an additional delegate.

WU TING FANG.

Enclosure 13 in No. 1.

Wai-chiao Pu to Mr. Alston.

(Translation.) Sir,

Peking, May 8, 1917.“ WITH reference to this year's joint opium inspections, I had the honour on the 26th ultimo to communicate to you a telegram from the Military and Civil Governors of Kiangsi reporting that the inspection of that province had been completed and that the cultivation of opium had been completely eradicated.

I have now received a telegram from the Military and Civil Governors of Kuangtung as follows:-

"We deputed the Chao Hsun Taoyin, Huang Hsiao Chuch and others to accompany the British delegate on a joint inspection to all the well known opium districts of the province. The inspection has been completed without any poppy having been found, and the British delegate has signed a statement to the effect that poppy cultivation in Kuangtung has been completely eradicated and has sent a report to the British Minister at Peking."

The following telegram has also been received from the Military Governor of Kueichow

"The British consul, Mr. Tours, arrived in the province on the 4th April and travelled personally by the North road through the districts of Tung-tze, Tsun-yi, Chien-hai, Chib-chin, and Pu-ting round to An Hsun, Chen-ning, Kuan-ling, Nan-lung, and Hsing-yi, and at the same time he requested the missionary societies in Kueichow to make secret enquiries in all directions They found that opium cultivation had been completely eradicated.

The British consul left the province on the 1st instant and took the main West road to Yünnan. Shen Yi, the delegate sent by the province, has telegraphed stating that Mr. Tours completed his inspection without incident and announced that he was satisfied that opium had been entirely suppressed in Kueichow and that he had already sent a very favourable report by telegraph to the British Minister in Peking."

I have the honour to communicate for your information the above reports of the joint inspections in Kuang-tung and Kueichow, and avail, &c.

(Translation.) Sir.

Enclosure 14 in No. 1.

Wai-chico Pu to Mr. Alston.

WỤ TING FANG.

Peking, June 7, 1917. WITH reference to the joint opium inspections that are taking place this year, have already had the honour to communicate to you reports that I have received from Kiangsi, Kuangtung, and Kueichow to the effect that the inspections were completed and that the provinces in question had been found cleared of opium.

On the 3rd instant I received a telegram from the Governor of Kiangsu stating that the British official, Mr. Toller, get out on the 26th April, in company with the delegates sent by the Ministries and the province, on their tour of investigation. This has now been completed with the result that no poppy has been found anywhere in the province. The British official returned to Ningpo from Shanghai on the 28th May.

I have the honour to inform you of the above, and I avail, &c.

0

WU TING FANG.

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