CO129-470 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 361

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Stathelo J202 WOY

(JLAVTO) BI Škarri

These papers show that the growth of native

-

epium continues to increase in China, but the remedy which

they apparently suggest the legalisation of the trade -

would be much worse than the disease. It is not the case,

+

7

:

as br. Bowra states, that "the prohibition of the importa-

tion of Indian opium has opened the way for, and encouraged

and fostered an enormous production of Chinese opium."

There was an "enormous production of native opium long

before the prohibition of Indian opium came into forse, and,

an a matter of fact, the native growth was far greater than

it now is when the Indian import was nearly at its height.

The present recrudescence is due to the political confusion

sxisting throughout China and unfortunately there is slender

hope of any immediate improvement. The position of the

Customs officials is undoubtedly embarrassing, but they

should recognise that they are the servants of a Government

which has lost control over the country and should not be

allowed to impose unreasonable conditions on British

shipping. The Consuls too, have a difficult task in

controlling the less reputable element among their nationals.

The position is practically what it was before the 1885

Opium Agreement and as one who passed through that experience

I sympathize with all concerned. But all those loosi

ENDRTTKLOMments and difficulties are but as dust in the soale

compared with the indelible stigma that would attach to us

as a Nation if we ranged ourselves on the side of the

tuchung and boame a party to the legalising of the opium

traffic/