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all parts. No cultivation has been discovered this year. As regards the traffic in opium its discovery is rendered difficult by unscrupulous persons who use the railway for this purpose. Arrangements have, however, been made with the Japanese officials, who will help the Chinese authorities in carrying out opium suppression. and radical prohibitionary measures are being enforced in the inns and brothels in the railway territory, so that the traffic may be destroyed at its origin, and the poison thoroughly eradicated. Renewed instructions for the most stringent action in this respect will be issued later on.
Kirin.
Mr. Chao Hsien-chang, head of the police bureau, has been specially appointed to carry out prohibitionary measures and investigations, with a view to the thorough eradication of opium. According to the reports of this officer since received, opium criminals have collected in secret bands in the mountains and forests of the north- east with the object of resisting the authorities. It is therefore difficult to carry out investigations in those parts except with the assistance of large bodies of troops. Just as the matter was under consideration Governor Meng was transferred and the troops stationed along the roads were moved. It was thus impossible to attend to the matter. Further, owing to the situation in the capital, Mr. Chao had to return immediately; but an officer was left to carry on the investigations and complete the work.
Heilungkiang.
For years past special delegates have been deputed to co-operate with the military and police authorities in carrying out investigations during the late spring and early summer. According to reports received from the Suilan Taoyin, desperate criminals engaged in secret cultivation in the mountains have actually prepared mines with the object of resisting the authorities. Sanction has now been received to an increase in the punishments laid down for opium offenders, ringleaders being liable to imprison- ment for life, &c. The introduction of these measures has produced excellent results. A special corps of mountain and forest rangers, 300 strong, has been established in the districts concerned, with the duty of patrolling the localities. A commencement has already been made with this arrangement. The various military commandants have also been instructed to co-operate with the district officials in the work of opium suppression.
Hsinkiang.
No opium cultivation has been permitted in the borders of Hsinkiang province for some years past. The Chinese authorities are, however, unable to cross the border and suppress cultivation in Russian territory. But, with a view to stopping the traffic at its source, soldiers were despatched in the late spring and early summer of this year to arrest people crossing over into Russian territory to cultivate opium, and forward them to the capital for punishment. Those who managed secretly to reach Russian territory were handed over by the Russian authorities to the Chinese officials. A regular scheme of opium suppression has been arranged with the Russian authorities. At the present moment poppy cultivation has been completely eradicated in Hsinkiang.
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Excellency of indisputable facts regarding the existence of widespread cultivation and traffic, often with the connivance and encouragement of the very officials, the reports of whose alleged energetic measures of suppression are now furnished by your Excellency for the information of His Majesty's Government. I would refer, for instance, to the cases of Shensi and Szechuan, where I am now informed by your Excellency's Ministry, the strictest measures are being taken to enforce prohibition. Yet, as must be well known to your Excellency, Targe areas in these two provinces were during the present spring and summer covered with the poppy, from which the opium was duly harvested without the least attempt at concealment, the opium pro- ducing fields being taxed by the officials at a regularly assessed rate,
The reports now supplied by your Excellency would lead one to suppose that the cultivation of the poppy and the trade in opium are being rigorously suppressed throughout the length and breadth of China. I am forwarding these documents to my Government; but in doing so I am compelled to explain that they do not repre- sent the true facts regarding the production of opium during the past year. Indeed, it would rather appear that a large part of the country is drifting back to the state which obtained before the opium question was taken up by the Governments of China and Great Britain, and that the whole work of the past thirteen years is in danger of being completely nullified.
It remains to be seen what effect the measures now alleged to be in force will have on the production of opium during the coming season. The matter is being most closely watched on behalf of His Majesty's Government, who will be informed of the true facts regarding the amount of cultivation during the approaching winter and spring, as they have been informed of the true facts regarding the regrettable recrudescence of cultivation during the past year. I would therefore again urge upon your Excellency's Government the importance of seeing that the instructions and regulations issued on the subject are not treated as empty verbiage, but are honestly enforced by the responsible officials of the provinces, in order that the solemn treaty obligations of China may be carried into effect.
I avail, &c.
My Lord,
No. 40.
J. N. JORDAN.
Sir J. Jordan to Eari Curzon.-(Received January 2, 1920.)
Peking, November 4, 1919. WITH reference to my despatch of the 20th September last, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a memorandum which I have handed to the Wai-chiao Pu embodying recent reports received from His Majesty's consuls at Wuchow, Chengtu and Ichang, on the cultivation of, and traffic in, opium in their respective districts.
I have, &c.
(In the absence of His Majesty's Minister),
SOMERVILLE HEAD.
Sir,
Enclosure 3 in No. 39.
Sir J. Jordan to Wai-chiao Pu.
Peking, September 17, 1919.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's note of the 4th instant forwarding extracts from reports received from various provinces regarding the measures alleged to have been taken for the suppression of the cultivation of the poppy and the trade in opium,
In reply I have the honour to observe that in the frequent communications I have addressed to your Excellency on this subject I have not complained of the absence of instructions or regulations regarding opium suppression, but have informed your
Enclosure 1 in No. 40.
Memorandum communicated to Wai-chiao Pu.
IN September the Wai-chiao Pu communicated to His Majesty's Legation, and caused to be published in the press, reports received from the provinces showing the measures being taken by the local authorities for the suppression the cultivation of, and traffic in, opium.
In confirmation of the statement contained in his note sent to the Wai-chiao Pu in reply on the 17th September to the effect that these reports did not represent the true facts, and in pursuance of his desire to assist the Chinese Government in carrying out their declared policy, His Majesty's Minister has the honour to bring
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