CO129-457 - Public Offices - 1919 — Page 457

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sacrifice which the Chinese Government and people have made on the altar of their country and of humanity in general by thus refusing, in the interests of morality, to derive profit from the valuable stocks which they held. His Majesty's Government welcome this act as a convincing sign that the Chinese Government are determined to put an end to the suffering and degradation which has been caused in the past by the vicious and widespread indulgence in the drug.

His Majesty's Government, however, have learnt with much concern that in various provinces of China a recrudescence of opium cultivation has taken place during the last few years. This fact is so notorious throughout China that it is not necessary for me to enter into any detail in referring to it. Various instances have by my instructions been brought to your Excellency's notice from time to time as they have been reported to me. But I would mention that, in addition to Kiangsu, Fukien, Anhui, Hunan, Szechuan, Yüunan, Kueichow, Manchuria, and Hsinchiang-from all of which provinces I have received reports of widespread cultivation and traffic in the drug which unfortunately leave no room to doubt their accuracy--the province of Shensi (as pointed out in my memorandum of the 9th March) provides a particularly flagrant example of retrogression. Reliable reports have reached me from many sources in that province, both Chinese and foreign, and all go to show that not only is cultivation taking place on a large scale, but that it is either openly encouraged or secretly connived at by officials appointed by your Excellency's own Government, the Tuchun of the province being himself the principal culprit in this respect.

In considering these facts, venture to remind your Excellency that by the Agreement of 1911 the Chinese Government bound themselves to diminish the production of home-grown opium pari prasu with the diminished importation of opium from India, and that, moreover, for more than a year past the import of Indian opium into China has entirely ceased. The cessation has been enforced by His Majesty's Government solely on the understanding that opium production in China had likewise come to an end, and they cannot but regard its recrudescence as a grave infringement of a solemn pledge entered into by the Chinese Government. Against this infringement I am instructed to enter a most emphatic and earnest protest. I would remind your Excellency that in subscribing to the 1911 Agreement, His Majesty's Government were actuated by the motive of assisting the Chinese Government to overcome what was commonly regarded throughout the world as a national vice. Should the attainment of this object be frustrated by the failure of the Chinese Government to sustain its part of the Agreement, it is hardly necessary for me to point out the very grave responsibility which it will incur before its own people and the world at large.

The deliberate encouragement of the opium traffic in Sheusi and other provinces by the responsible authorities is so far out of harmony with the spirit and the financial sacrifice of the opium burning that it suggests to the public opinion of foreign countries an impression of disunion in this country which is most unfortunate in China's national interests. I trust, therefore, that the Central Government will forthwith take steps to remove this impression, aud will not hesitate to make an example of Governora like the Tuchun of Shensi, who are openly encouraging the growth of opium within their jurisdiction.

I avail, &c.

J. N. JORDAN,

J

Foreign

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1919

HONG KONG

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