CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921 — Page 541

My Lord,

100

No. 43.

Mr. Lampson to Earl Curzon.—(Received June 14.)

Peking, April 10, 1920.

I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copies, in translation, of correspond- ence exchanged with the Wai-chiao Pu on the subject of poppy cultivation in Fukien province.

Copies of the correspondence in question have been forwarded to the secretary of the International Anti-Opium Association. It may be noted in this connection that on the 31st December last the secretary of the association wrote to this Legation to state that representatives of the society had on the previous day interviewed the President of the Republic and had drawn his Excellency's attention to the reports the association were receiving concerning cultivation in Fukien.

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they have immediately issued strict orders for investigation and suppression. Letters have repeatedly been received from your Legation reporting cases of poppy cultiva- tion in the provinces, and in no instance has this Ministry failed to issue immediate instructions to the local authorities concerned for investigation and suppression, while at the same time informing your Legation of the action taken. In regard to the present case of rumoured poppy cultivation in Fu An and Putien districts, this Ministry has already telegraphically instructed the Civil and Military Governors of Fukien province to send deputies to the places in question with orders to investigate and take action for the enforcement of prohibition. As regards the proposals of the British consul. I have the honour to observe that joint investigations are the procedure laid down in article 4 of the Opium Treaty, which has now expired. There is, therefore, no need to discuss further the consul's proposals.

I have, &c.

540

Sir,

I have, &c...

MILES W. LAMPSON.

Enclosure 1 in No. 43.

Sir,

Mr. Lampson to Wai-chiao Pu.

Peking, March 31, 1920.

I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I am in receipt of tele- graphic information from Foochow to the effect that the opium poppy is now in flower in Fu An and Putien districts, and that in the latter district large fines are being collected by Northern troops under Colonel Wang Hsien-ch'en, of Li Tuchun's bodyguard.

At an interview on the 26th March His Majesty's consul requested the Governor to send officials to both places to destroy the crops and suggested that representatives of the International Anti-Opium Association be permitted to accompany them. To this the Governor agreed, and promised that arrangements would immediately be made by the Foreign Affairs delegate. No action has, however, yet been taken, and the Foreign Affairs delegate has informed His Majesty's consul that he must refer the matter to your Excellency's Ministry.

I have the honour to request your Excellency to instruct the authorities con- cerned at Foochow immediately by telegraph to make the necessary arrangements with the least possible delay for carrying out the suggestion made by His Majesty's consul. I would point out that, owing to the very short period between the flowering of the poppy and the opium harvest, any delay will give rise to the justified suspicion that the provincial authorities are implicated in the breach of law above referred to. I shall have to inform my Government in due course of this flagrant case of poppy cultivation in regions controlled by the Central Government, and trust that shall be able at the same time to report prompt action by your Excellency's Ministry and the provincial authorities.

I avail, &c.

MILES W. LAMPSON.

Enclosure 2 in No. 43.

Wai-chiao Pu ̄to Mr. Lampson.

Enclosure 3 in No. 43.

Mr. Lampson to Wai-chiao Pu.

Peking, April 10, 1920. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 6th instant in which you inform me of the measures taken for the suppression of poppy cultivation in Fukien province. You add that joint investigations are the procedure laid down in article 4 of the Opium Treaty, which has now expired, and that there is no need to discuss further the consul's proposals, to the effect that representatives of the International Anti-Opium Association should accompany the delegates sent by the provincial authorities to destroy the crops known to be in full bloom.

I have the honour to point out to your Excellency that the proposals made by His Majesty's consul and supported by me had no connection whatsoever with the Opium Treaty, but were put forward with the object of enabling the local authori- ties, as well as your Excellency's Government, to prove their sincerity the matter of opium suppression. That this sincerity, as far as the high provincial authorities of Fukien and certain other provinces are concerned, is in need of proof, is only too apparent from the numerous and reliable reports of official connivance and encourage- ment of poppy cultivation which this Legation has had occasion to forward to your Excellency's Ministry, I am therefore both surprised and disappointed to learn of the attitude adopted by your Excellency's Ministry towards the proposals in question; the more so in view of the message from his Excellency the President of the Republic of China to the Anti-Opium Association recently published in the press, in which his Excellency stated that he would be most grateful for the assistance of the association in the work of opium suppression and begged them to exert themselves zealously in the matter.

In view of the refusal of your Excellency's Ministry to take advantage of the present opportunity to enlist the active participation of the Anti-Opium Associa- tion in the work of suppression of poppy cultivation, the reiterated statement of the Chinese authorities regarding the issuing of strict instruction for investigation and suppression, contained in the numerous communications received from your Excel- lency's Ministry on this subject, must, I fear, continue to be regarded as completely lacking in sincerity.

I have, &c.

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Sir,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 31st March

Peking, April 6, 1920, informing me that you were in receipt of a telegram from Foochow to the effect that the poppy was now in full bloom in Fu An and Putien districts in Fukien.

(Quotes letter.)

In reply I have the honour to observe that the Chinese Government is taking the strictest measures with regard to opium suppression, no indulgence being shown. Of recent years, owing to the complexity of affairs in various places, there have perhaps been occasions when ignorant people have taken the opportunity to plant the poppy. But as soon as the local officials have heard of such cultivation.

No. 44.

Mr. Alston to Earl Curzon,-(Received July 20.)

My Lord,

Peking, May 20, 1920. IN contimation of Mr. Lampson's despatch of the 10th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul at Foochow, reporting on the cultivation of the opium poppy in Fukien, and also of a letter which I have addressed to the Wai-chiao Pu on the same subject.

I have, &c.

B. ALSTON.

HI 3

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