ד- “.
Sir,
2
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. Mossop to Sir B. Alston.
Shanghai, May 21, 1921. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith copy of a despatch which I have to-day addressed to His Majesty's consul-general at Hankow in reference to his despatch No. 31 of the 6th May to you.
3
aware of this, and recently reduced the rewards paid to informers by 50 per cent.; but even this drastic step does not appear to have had the desired effect, and the business continues to flourish.
I am forwarding a copy of this despatch, with its enclosures, to His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai,
I have, &c.
A
HERBERT GOFFE
Sir,
I have, &c.
ALLAN G. MOSSOP,
Acting Crown Advocate.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Mr. Mossop to Consul-General Goffe (Hankow).
Shanghai, May 21, 1921.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 6th May, in which you request my opinion on the subject of the alleged liability of British steamers to be fined for carrying opium.
any
In reply, I have the honour to state that on the facts given in your despatch I do not consider that Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. (Limited) have committed offence for which the Customs can seek to inflict an arbitrary fine, and I am of opinion that the attitude adopted by the company towards the Commissioner of Customs and after consultation with yourself was, in the circuinstances, the correct one.
A refusal to pay such fees might, of course, be met by the Customs withdrawing certain customs facilities, which I understand are at present extended to the company's ships. In such event, diplomatic action would probably be necessary to settle the dispute.
On the other hand, the Customs are at perfect liberty, in any case where they may have the requisite evidence, to file a complaint in His Britannic Majesty's Consular Court charging any "person" (which expression, by the Principal Order, is deliued as including a corporation) with committing an offence under regulation 2 of King's Regulations No. 2 of 1919, and I consider that this is the proper remedy open to them in these cases.
In accordance with your request, I am forwarding a copy of this reply direct to His Majesty's Minister at Peking.
(Copy to Peking.)
I have, &c.
ALLAN G. MOSSOP,
Acting Crown Advocate.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Sir,
Enclosure 4 in No. 1,
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. to Consul-General Goffe.
Hankow, May 16, 1921.
STEAMSHIP "Kutwo": Seizure of 439 catties of opium. For your
files we have the honour to enclose herein a copy of our letter of even date to the Commissioner of Customs, and a copy of Captain James's report, dated the 11th instant, mentioned therein. We are authorised to convey to you the thanks of the general managers for the assistance extended to us by your goodself in this matter.
We are, &c (Per pro. Jaidine, Matheson and Co. (Limited)),
W. S. DUPREE, Agents, Indo-China Steamship Navigation Company (Limited).
Enclosure 5 in No. 1.
Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. to the Commissioner of Customs, Hankow. Dear Sir,
Hankow, May 16, 1921,
STEAMSHIP "Kutwo". Seizure of 433 catties opium. Further to our respects of the 3rd instant, we beg to enclose herein a copy of Captain James' report, dated the 11th idem, concerning the above seizure, which took place on board his vessel.
The report brings to light the fact that the vessel was purposely allowed to become a trap to ensure the safe seizure of the contraband, and that no action was taken by the Cust ms search party to effect the arrest of those implicated who have deserted their vessel. Whilst the question of arrest of traffickers is subordinate to that of seizure of their illicit goods and forward, we are powerless to act when assistance, which might help to suppress the traffic by the arrest of those engaged in it, is denied us by your officials.
In conclusion, we would assure you that our officers are doing everything in their power to prevent smuggling in terms of our Annual Guarantees.
We are, &c.
Consul-General Goffe to Sir B. Alston.
(No. 38.) Sir,
Hankow, May 17, 1921. WITH reference to my despatch No. 31 of the 6th instant, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a letter I have received from Messra. Jardine, Matheson and Co., enclosing copy of a letter they have addressed to the Commisioner of Customs on the subject of the recent seizure of opium on the steamship "Kutwo." As you will observe, Mr. Dupree, in his letter to the commissioner, states that the master's report "brings to light the fact that the vessel was purposely allowed to become a trap to ensure the safe seizure of the contraband, and that no action was taken by the Cusioms sear h party to effect the arrest of those implicated, who have deserted this vess-1." The Mr Tod mentioned in the master's report is Mesare. Jardine, Matheson and Co.'s shipping clerk,
It is openly stated by the Chinese that the production of opium for seizure by the maritime customs is now a recognised and profitable industry, the large reward paid to the informer, who acts in collusion with the producer, & vering ail expenses and leaving a bandsome profit to all concerned. Mr. Currie informs me that the Customs became
Dear Sir,
Enclosure 6 in No. 1,
Captain James to Mr. Dupree (Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co.).
Hankow, May 11, 1921.
I BEG to submit report of opium found in the "Kutwo" on the 30th April, 1921, trip 815, at Haukow.
My reason for not submitting same ere now is that I have been trying to locate and if possible effect the arrest of the two firemen who deserted the ship immediately the seizure was made. To attempt to offer explanation as to where the opium came from is futile, but the Customs search party appeared to have been acting upon information, for without reporting to the chief officer or chief engineer they came on board at 10 A.M., and walked atraight to the side bunker where the opium waa secreted.
Shortly afterwards, when reporting the seizure verbally in Mr. Tod's office, the customs officer stated most definitely the time it had been seen seen going on board,
5 A.M.
375
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