48
standing with the Chinese authorities in consequence
would more than compensate for any difficulties that
might arise.
7.
His Majesty's Consul arrives at the conclusion
that if the Customs are insufficiently staffed for the
purpose, searching by some other organization should
be permitted and that unless something of this sort is
done, it is probable that informal acquiescence in the
searching by opium officials of the Chinese quarters
will gradually be extended to the whole ship, without
any exceptions or conditions.
8.
His Majesty's Consul-General at Chungking refers
to a case which occurred in September last when a quan-
tity of opium amounting to nearly one ton and a quarter
was found on board a certain British vessel on arrival
at Wanhsien. In connection with this case His Majesty's
Consul-General received a letter from the Chief of
Foreign Affairs to General Yang Sen at Wanhsien to the
effect that the opium had been taken on board at T'ang
Chia T'e, Chungking, that neither the Captain nor the
Compradore informed the Navigation Bureau of this ship-
ment of opium, that as a result the writer was of opinion
that a "custom of amuggling" had been discovered, that
the opium had been confiscated, that His Britannie
Majesty's Consul-General could find ways and means to
avoid and prevent similar occurrences in the future in
order to make the re-establishment of the former friend-
ly and trustful relations possible, that it was difficult
to suppose that so much smuggled goods could be taken
en board without the notice of the foreign officers,
that/
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