5
No. 3.
Mr, Alston to Sir Edward Grey.-—(Received July 14.)
Sir,
Peking, June 27, 1913. REFERRING to Sir John Jordan's despatch of the 4th instant, I have the honour to enclose copies of further correspondence with the Wai-chiao Pu relative to the prohibition of the import of Indian opium into the province of Chekiang under article 3 of the Opium Agreement of 1911.
In their memorandum of the 7th June the Wai-chiao Pu stated that, according to the telegram from the Tutu of Chekiang, the time for an inspection of poppy cultivation had not yet passed by, and that delegates could even then be sent into the province.
In reply to my telegram, His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai telegraphed on the 12th June that the poppy began to bloom in Chekiang on the 8th March and must all have been gathered between the 15th May and the 31st May, and that. according to the statement of Chinese dealers in Shanghai, the poppy fields were bare at the end of May. The consul-general added that the new season of Chekiang opium was at the moment on market at Shanghai.
On the 17th June, I replied to the Wai-chiao Pu, repeating Sir John Jordan's statement, made in his memorandum of the 29th May, to the effect that the poppy season was over, and that it was now too late to attempt any inspection of the province this year.
I have, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 3.
B. ALSTON.
despatched to make enquiries, investigations can be made and knowledge obtained. Moreover, according to the telegram of the Tutu, the time for an inspection has not yet passed by, and delegates can even now be sent thither, in order to satisfy the aspirations of the people of Chekiang.
The Wai-chiao Pu have the honour to communicate this information to His Majesty's Minister and trust to receive his reply.
(Seal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.)
Peking, June 7, 1913.
Enclosure 2 in No. 3.
Memorandum communicated to Wai-chiao Pu by Mr. Alston.
MR. ALSTON has the honour to acknowledge the Wai-chiao Pu's memorandum of the 7th instant referring to the question of placing Chekiang on the list of provinces into which Indian import should not be conveyed under article 3 of the Opium Agreement of 1911.
Mr. Älston is ready to add to the prohibition list any province which has been able to establish by clear evidence that it has effectively suppressed the cultivation and import of native opium. But the evidence in his possession would not justify him in acceding to the request of the Wai-chiao Pu without fuller and more detailed enquiries which are now being made.
Mr. Alston has recently received telegraphic information from His Majesty's consul-general at Shanghai that the poppy began to bloom in Chekiang early in March this year. Mr. Alston would repeat, therefore, the statement made by His Majesty's Minister in his memorandum of the 29th May, to the effect that the poppy season is over and that it is too late to attempt any inspection of the province this year,
Peking, June 17, 1913.
Memorandum communicated to Mr. Alston by Wai-chiao Pu.
(Translation.)
THE Wai-chiao Pu have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir J. Jordan's memorandum of the 29th ultimo on the subject of prohibition of import of Indian opium into Chekiang. In this he states that the poppy season in Chekiang is now over, and that it is too late to attempt any investigations; also that His Majesty's consuls at Hangchow and Ningpo are being called upon to submit reports in this connection, and that on their receipt His Majesty's Legation would again communicate with the Wai-chiao Pu on the subject.
The Wai-chiao Pu, on receipt of the above, telegraphed to the Chekiang Tutu to enquire whether, as the province proposed that it should be examined (with a view to prohibition of the drug), the season in which this could be done was already over or not. The Tutu's reply is to the effect that the opium plants have hitherto been sown in Chekiang province in the 9th or 10th moon; that the sap was collected in the 4th and 5th moons; and that as the climate in the Wenchow country was somewhat warmer than elsewhere in the province it was still possible to sow the poppy in the 1st and 2nd moons. Referring to his first telegram, that the province was com- pletely cleared of opium, and to his later.telegram asking that the British Minister be approached in order that he might send delegates to make investigations, these telegrams were sent off at the end of the spring or the beginning of summer, at a time when the poppy plant has always been under cultivation, and the flowers are in full bloom; at such a time it is easy to distinguish whether the poison is still on the flow, and in fact the time of cultivation had not passed by. The Tutu requested the Wai-chiao Pu to address itself to His Majesty's Minister and again ask him immedi- ately to appoint delegates to proceed to Chekiang and make a tour of investigation. and to enquire into the actual conditions of the work of opium suppression in Chekiang
The Ministry have the honour to observe that on past occasions when a request has been made for the prohibition of import of Indian opium (into a certain province), on the majority of occasions, no joint investigation was made, but his Excellency consented nevertheless to place the name of the province on the list of those into which the import of the drug was prohibited. On the present occasion Chekiang hos prohibited the drug and absolutely cleared herself thereof; even though no delegate is
No. 4.
Mr. Alston to Sir Edward Gréy.—(Received August 9.)
Sir,
I HAVE the honour to enclose copy of correspondence with the Wai-chiao Pu
Peking, July 24, 1913. relative to the placing of Kiangsi and Hupeb on the list of provinces into which Indian opium shall not be conveyed.
I have informed the Wai-chiao Pu that, on receipt of reports from His Majesty's consuls at Kiukiang, Hankow and Ichang, I will communicate with them
I have, &c.
again.
Enclosure 1 in No. 4.
Wai-chiao Pu to Mr. Alston.
B. ALSTON.
July 3, 1913.
THE Wai-chiao Pu have the honour to inform Mr. Alston that. on the 20th June, a communication from the Civil Governor of Kiangsi was received at the Ministry forwarding the following report by the head of the Department of the Interior :-
"With a view to the prohibition of opium in Kiangsi province, import of the native drug from other provinces was severely stopped from July of last year, and magistrates throughout the province were repeatedly enjoined to prohibit the cultivation of the poppy before it was planted. During March of the present year, when the poppy plants had grown up, capable officials were selected, and sent throughout the province to investigate and root up the crop. At the present time they report that the plants have been completely cut down, and the condition required by article 3 of the Opium Agreement has been reached in every particular.
[6032]
B 3
492
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.