CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 11

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manufacture and sale of opium, but no specific department of the Government is entrusted with these duties.

The issue of smoking licences and the general control of smokers is entrusted to the Japanese gendarmerie, and the system of controlling smokers, which is similar to that in force in the German time, seems adequate for the purpose.

Article 6 provides that only inveterate smokers will be granted licences, which conforms with the policy enunciated in Mr. Tanaka's letter to Mr. Sansom (enclosure in Tokyo despatch No. 557 to the Foreign Office of the 26th November, 1920) that such steps as may be proper will he taken to permit the consumption of a certain quantity of opium by only such inveterate opium eaters as may be found, by a strict medical examination to be held within the present fiscal year, to be chronic sufferers from its poisonous influence."

No fee is to be charged for a smoking licence. The local authorities inform me that it is thought that inability to find sufficient ready money to pay the fee (1 dollar per month, payable quarterly in advance) has frequently led to illicit uncontrolled smoking by the poorer classes, which it is hoped will now be made unnecessary. Considering the high cost of the drug, the charge of a small licence fee could hardly have this effect, but the point is not important.

Article 13 provides that the price of prepared opium will be decided by the Govern ment, but it is not possible to ascertain what considerations will govern the fixing of the price.

The regulations do not so provide, but I am informed verbally by the local authorities that no public opium dens will be allowed, and that only prepared opium will be sold to smokers.

Present licences to import, manufacture or sell the drug are to be continued, which means in practice that the Chinese opium monopoly merchant, Liu Tzu Shan, will continue to be the only authorised dealer in opium."

It is believed that the total number of licensed smokers in Tsingtao during the past few years has not exceeded 200. A number are Chinese who have come to reside in Tsingtao for the express purposes to smoke. Thus, if the new

of smoking opium, and approximately this number will probably continue to obtain

regulations are strictly enforced, the amount of opium smoking in the leased territory will be small.

Article 2 provides that the regulations do not apply to persons who are subject to the Imperial laws in accordance with article 4 of the military criminal code, that is to say, Japanese subjects. The local authorities explain that severe penalties are already provided in the Japanese criminal code for any illicit trading in, or smoking of, opium by Japanese subjects, and that the new regulations are not intended to permit a Japanese subject under any circumstances to obtain permission to trade in or to smoke opium.

It is regrettable that the new regulations do not call for the co-operation of the Chinese maritime customs in controlling the opium traffic in Tsingtao, since the present position is thus liable to be continued under which the opium merchant recognised by the Japanese administration is able to deal in opium and to smuggle the drug into the interior without it coming to the official cognisance of the Chinese. Customs. But, for political reasons, it would doubtless be difficult at present to get the Japanese military administration to recognise and co-operate with the Chinese maritime customs in this

manner,

The new regulations merely replace the former German regulations (which it is admitted were not strictly enforced) dealing with opium smoking in the leased territory. These new regulations make no mention of the abolition of the Japanese Government opium monopoly bureau, which has existed during the past few years, doubtless because the existence of this monopoly bureau has been kept secret and has never officially been admitted by the local authorities. Moreover, since the regulations merely provide that no person may import, transport, manufacture or sell opium without the sanction of the local Government, they do not in themselves ensure the discontinuance of the trade carried on in the past by the Tsingtao military administration opium monopoly bureau through the Chinese monopoly merchant, Liu Tzu Shan.

But the Japanese Government, in the letter from the Japanese Minister in Peking to the International Anti-Opium Association of the 5th October, 1920, and again in Mr. Tanaka's letter to Mr. Sansom referred to above, have definitely stated that it has been "definitely decided entirely to abolish the opium monopoly system at Tsingtao' by the 31st March, 1921.

And I have now been assured by Mr. Fukotomi, chief of the financial bureau of the Tsingtao administration, that it is the definite policy of the Tsingtao administration in future to adhere strictly to the new regulations and only to permit the import and

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sale of small quantities of opium for consumption by licensed smokers in the leased territory.

In proof of the intention of the Tsingtao administration to discontinue the secret opium monopoly, it may be mentioned that steps are now being taken, by dismissal of superfluous Government officials or in other ways, to compensate for the considerable loss of revenue entailed, believed to be some 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 dollars per

annum.

It is evident that the major part of the opium imported by the monopoly bureau was not consumed in the leased territory, but was smuggled into the interior of China, and the abolition of the monopoly system will close this avenue for the entry of the drug into China.

I shall have the honour to deal in a separate despatch with the question of the control of the trade in morphine, cocaine and their kindred salts in Tsingtao.

(Under flying seal to His Majesty's consul-general, Tsinanfu.)

Enclosure 2 in No. 1.

I have, &c.

ALLAN ARCHER.

Japanese Regulations for Control of Opium in Kiaochow Leased Territory.

(Translation from original Japanese text.)

ORDINANCE No. 6.

REGULATIONS governing opium are hereby made as follows:—

January 29, 1921.

M. YUI,

Commander-in-chief of Tsingtao Garrison.

Opium Regulations.

Article 1. In these regulations the term "opium" shall mean crude opium and prepared opium.

Art. 2. These regulations shall not apply to persons who are subject to the Imperial laws in accordance with article 4 of the military criminal code.

Art. 3. No person may cultivate poppy with the object of producing opium. Art. 4. No person may import, transport, manufacture or sell opium who has not obtained the sanction of the Government.

Art. 5. No person may possess opium except in compliance with these regulations. Art. 6. No person may smoke opium unless he has been recognised as an inveterate smoker and obtained the sanction of the Government.

Art. 7. Any person desiring to smoke opium shall report his name, residence, profession and age to the chief of the gendarmerie having jurisdiction over the district and obtain his sanction.

Art. 8. The chief of the gendarmerie shall issue to any person who has received sanction to smoke opium a certificate of sanction to smoke opium in the form annexed to these regulations.

Art. 9. If any person who has received sanction to smoke opium gives up smoking or changes residence he shall report to the gendarmerie having jurisdiction over the district within a period of five days

Art. 10. If any person who has received sanction to smoke opium dies, or his residence becomes unknown, the landlord or his agent shall immediately report to the gendarmeria having jurisdiction over the district.

Art. 11. Any person holding a licence who desires to import or transport opium shall report to the Government the kind, quantity, cost price, place of purchase, and name of consignor, and obtain the sanction of the Government.

Art. 12. Opium for sale shall be enclosed in an opium box and sealed with a stamped label paper. Sample of such box and label shall first be approved by the Government.

Art. 13. The price of prepared opium shall be decided by the Government. Art. 14. No licensed person shall sell opium to any person who has not obtained the sanction of the Government to smoke opium.

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