10
the opium shops. Fines were imposed on all, and some shops were torn down. One cultivator was arrested and beaten until he disclosed the names of other growers, who were forced to destroy their crops.
Mr. Bucknall writes:-
A
Wongan-The Wongan official has deepened a canal 30 li in length on the proceeds of opium fines.
"I have not seen any poppy this year, and there is, as far as I can hear, practically none grown in the districts of Taichow, Wongan, and Taiping. There is probably some in very out-of-the-way places where the officials have not been able to find it, or where the people not expecting the officials to return have planted the roots that have been pulled up, but I have only heard of this being done on the Taichow islands, even there one would have to be taken to the place to be able to find it.
There are, I hear, some thirty mou of poppy coming into flower in the Linghai district, but the officials know about it and have ordered the soldiers, who are making a tour of the T'aicbow districts, to go and destroy it, which will be done within the next fortnight.
"As far as I can ascertain there is none imported. The opium used by the smokers is said to be the remains of last year's crop, and its price having fallen from 8 ts'ien to 2 liang per Mexican dollar would seem to prove this, as opium, I believe, is dearer in other places.
"Officials are catching all the opium smokers they can find. It is impossible to give any statement as to how many are left. I hear that when an opium smoker wants to have a smoke he goes to some out-of the-way place, such as an old deserted temple, and smokes his opium through a bamboo stick with a hole bored in it, and then throws away the stick.
4
As to smuggling it in there is not enough to be made to warrant the risk taken, for if they were caught they would probably be shot. The steamers would not take the risk either.
There is plenty of opium being grown in the Wenchow districts, and if you desired photographs or roots (plants) I will get them for you."
In conclusion I have the honour to express the opinion that had there been any other considerable growth of opium, or any marked consumption, I should have been informed by the missionaries in the district concerned.
I have, &c.
Sir,
Enclosure 5 in No. 5. Consul Savage to Mr. Alston.
G. W. PEARSON.
Hangchow, July 18, 1913. REFERRING to your despatch of the 29th May calling for information as to the truth of the assertion of the authorities of this province that they have effectively suppressed the cultivation of the opium poppy and the smoking of opium, I have the honour to report that, on receipt of this despatch, I sent a circular letter to missionary stations in nine districts of this province, asking for reports on the subject.
I have received replies from Yen Chow Fu, Shao Hsing Fu, T'aichow Fu, Ch'a Chow Fu, Yung K'ang, Lung Ch'uan and one other place. Most of these replies were emphatic as to the severity of the measures taken to suppress both the cultivation and the smoking of opium, and their effectiveness. One or two were a little guarded as to the actual suppression of cultivation, owing to lack of personal observation or want of definite information; but they all agreed that not very much could have escaped the extreme vigilance of the authorities and their informers.
C
The Rev. Mr. Thompson, of Taichow, reports that even in that district cultivation has been rigorously suppressed, though he admits the probability of a few poppy fields in isolated places among the hills having escaped observation. But he states, on the other hand, that: nobody denies but that there is very little diminution of opium smoking," there being probably secret hoards buried in various places.and I am told little pots are left at certain rendezvous at night, the price having been paid beforehand, for it is too dangerous to pass it from hand to hand."
I have, &c.
V. L. SAVAGE.
17
No. 6.
Mr. Alston to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received September 6.)
Sir,
IN my despatch of the 3rd instant I had the honour to forward a memorandum
Peking, August 21, 1913. dated the 28th July in which I had replied to the Wai-chiao Pu that on receipt of consular reports from Foochow and Amoy I would again communicate with them on the subject of their request to have Fukien included in the list of provinces into which Indian opium should not be conveyed.
I have now the honour to enclose copies of the reports from His Majesty's consuls at Foochow and Amoy, together with copy of my memorandum to the Wai-chiao Pu stating that the reports did nct bear out the contention that complete success had been attained as regards the prohibition of cultivation, and that it appeared also that native opium was being imported from other provinces.
I have accordingly declined to place Fukien on the prohibition list without further investigations on the lines of the joint inspections carried out in Shantung, Anhui and Hunan this year.
I have, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 6.
Memorandum communicated to Wai-chiao Pu.
B. ALSTON.
MR. ALSTON had the honour to receive a memorandum from the Wai-chiao Pu on the 7th July requesting that Fukien might be placed on the list of provinces into which Indian opium should not be conveyed, and on the 28th July he replied that a fuller communication would be sent on receipt of consular reports from Foochow and Amoy.
These reports have now been received, and they do not bear out the contention that complete success had been attained as regards the probibition of cultivation; and, moreover, it would appear that native opium is being imported from other provinces.
Mr. Alston is at a loss to understand the grounds for the statement quoted by the Wai-chiao Pu as having been made by the General Anti-Opium Association of Fukien to the effect that His Majesty's consul at Amoy had recognised the fact that complete success had been attained in the prohibition of cultivation in the province, and had reported in that sense to the British Government. has made no such report, and, moreover, declares that he has expressed no opinion as His Majesty's consul to the success or failure of the measures taken for the suppression of opium in the province beyond referring in conversation with the local officials to the large area of land under poppy cultivation last season.
Mr. Alston regrets that he is unable to place Fukien on the prohibition list forthwith, but he is ready in accordance with article 4 of the Opium Agreement of 1911 to arrange for a joint inspection of the conditions of opium cultivation and importation in that province next spring on the lines of the joint inspections carried out in Shantung, Anhui and Hunan this year.
Sir,
Peking, August 20, 1913.
Enclosure 2 in No. 6.
Consul Little to Mr. Alston.
Amoy, July 21, 1913. IN reply to your despatch of the 11th June. I have already transmitted to you from time to time all the information obtainable respecting the suppression of the production, sale and use of opium, and there is not likely to be anything further of importance to report until next season towards the end of the year.
However, on receipt of the circular under acknowledgment I addressed enquiries to the missionaries in the interior, and now append a summary of their replies:-
Yung Ch'un, Te Hua and Ta Tien Districts.-Dr. Maxwell states that he knows of no opium actually gathered. One patch was destroyed and the owner fined -200 dollars.
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