124
Mr, Leach, Councillor at the British Legation, in his second Report on the Opium Question states
most
Since the end of November 1907 when the "previous.General Report on the Anti-Opium +4 movement was written, the two "noticeable features have been the continued "interest and energy shown by the Central "Government in the question, as compared "with the growing apathy evinced by the "provincial officials, and their lack of sustained
"effort to eradicate the evil ".
CHAL
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
M. H. E. ELLIAS, P. F. TALATI,
CAWASJEE PALLANJEE & Co., P. B. PETIT & Co.
HONGKONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
Hongkong, 8th January, 1909. SIR-I beg to inform you that the British firms dealing in raw opium in this Colony have forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce & copy of their letter to you dated 9th nltimo, and of theirs to the Consul General at Canton dated 23rd September, with a request that my Com mittee take such steps as may appear desirable to assist them in combatting the action now being taken by the Chinese Authorities in the Two Kwong which is calculated to hamper the trade in imported opium.
This letter has been considered by my Com- mittee who are entirely in accord with the view expressed by the British Merchants in the two letters above referred to.
The letters in question have so dealt with the matter that little remains to be added.
As the provincial officials are expected to carry out the Edicts, their actions are chiefly to be considered, and not the ineffective Edicts issued by the 'entral Government. We entirely fail to see why His Britannic Majesty's Minister should lay stress on the Opium Ediot of September 20th 1906, which is merely an Edict or wish expressed by the Government of China, and has' never, to our knowledge, become & Treaty between the Chinese Government and the British Govern- ment. We would point out that Treaties do exist between England and China regarding My ommittee consider that the Merchants the former's trade and commerce, and we submit have made out a clear case of breach of treaty that so long as those Treaties remain un- against the Officials in the neighbouring pro- repealed, British Merchants trading in the Far vinces. It cannot, in the opinion of my Com- | East, and, as we have already pointed out, pur-mittee, be denied that the regulations now being chasing their merchandise direct from the enforced to limit the number of existing dealers British Government, should have the protection in raw opium and to prevent new firms from afforded them by those Treaties.
coming into existence do amount to a breach of the Treaties. They consequently view with considerable uneasiness the attitude taken up by His Majesty's Minister at Peking in this matter as they fear that this cannot but result in en- couraging the Provincial Officials to still further agressive acts against foreign trade.
The result of the two recent attempts by the Viceroy of Nanking and by the Viceroy of the Two Kwangs, to interfere with legitimate trade have on each occasion caused a heavy drop in prices, and a falling off in deliveries, resulting in heavy loss to the British Merchants and a complete disorganization of the trade in Raw Opium.
We would emphasize the fact that pres sure was brought to bear upon the Viceroy of the Two Kwangs by the energetic action of the Consul-General in Canton so that the Regulations which he sought to enforce throughout the Kwangtung Province were withdrawn in the City of Canton, yet in other Prefectures these Regulations have been brought into force, native dealers in raw opium have been fined and imprisoned by the Provincial Authorities at Chiu Chow and Wui Chow, thus causing extreme uneasiness amongst the local Chinese, which has prevented them purchasing raw opium and thus causing a com- plete disorganization of the Trade and a violent decline in prices, resulting in much loss to the Foreign Merchant and a general want of confi- dence in the future.
Finally, we would wish to point out that British interests are so widely and heavily invol- ved in the opium trade that the whole question should be approached with the utmost gravity. Before the British Government involve them- selves in further diplomatic action with the Chinese, conclusive proof should be adduced to clearly show that the Chinese Authorities are not only well intentioned, but have taken steps at least proportionately equal to those being taken by way of curtailing the production by the British Government.
It may not be out of place to here give a few of the most important interests connected with the trade which will suffer and to emphasize the serious blow that will result to British Commerce if the opium trade is to cease in the course of a few years:-
My Committee therefore wish to join with the writers of the previous letters in their protest against the enforcement of the regulations com- plained of, and trust that after full consideration of the matter His Excellency will see his way to represent this in the proper quarters, with a view to a repeal of the new opium regulations.
In conclusion I would beg to refer to the Chairman's letter to you of 3rd September, 1907, when dealing with the attempted monopoly in raw opium which the Viceroy of Nanking was then endeavouring to establish. In the opinion of my Committee the present position taken up by the Viceroy of the Two Kwang will have an equally restricting effect upon the trade as that attempted by the Nank- ing Authorities, and the arguments in the above letter apply therefore equally in the present case, I have &c..
++
Mr. F. H. May, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary.
E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary.
HONGKONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
11th January, 1909. SIRS, In reply to your letter of 9th Decem- ber last, I am directed to enclose herewith for the information of yourselves and co-signatories a copy of this hamber's letter to the Goyern- ment dated 8th instant, in which the Com- mittee have supported your protest against the action of the Chinese Authorities of the Two Kwang in instituting regulations calculated to hamper the trade in imported opium-I am, &c.,
E. A. M. WILLIAMS,
Secretary.
1 A loss of over Five million pounds sterl. Messrs. David Sassoon & Company, Limited. ing to India on the sale of Raw Opium alone. 2 A heavy blow to British merchants en- gaged in the trade.
A heavy loss to steamer owners, mostly British, as nearly all opium is carried in British bottoms.
4 A heavy loss to Fire Insurance Companies, mostly British, who insure whilst it is stored upon land.
5 A heavy loss to Marine Insurance Com- panies, mostly British, who insure raw opium whilst it is being carried on ship board.
6 A great loss to the British trade of Hong- kong and Shanghai and the Treaty ports, in- volving indirectly losses to labour, property and various other interests.-We have &c.,
DAVID SAB800N & Co., Ltd., E. D. SASSOON & Co.,
F. PABANEY,
TATA SONS & Co.,
H. M. H. NEMAZEE,
Hongkong, 15th January, 1909, SIR,-We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, enclosing copy of the hamber's letter to the Government dated 8th instant and have duly circulated same amongst the firms interested in the Opium Trade.
Kindly accept our best thanks for the support your Committee have given to our protest against the action of the hinese Authorities in institut- ing regulations calculated to hamper our trade We
are, &o.,
DAVID SASSOON & Co,, Ltd, E. SHELLIM, Manager, The Secretary,
Hongkong (hamber of Commerce.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
15th January, 1909. SIB, I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant con-
|
[February 15, 1909.**
cerning the action now being taken by the Chinese Authorities in the Two Kwang Pro- vinces, which is calculated to hamper the trade in imported opium, and to inform you that His Excellency the Governor has transmitted a copy of your letter to ir John Jordan and that this matter has for some time past. been engaging His Excellency's serious attention.I am, do.,
F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.
The Secretary,
Hongkong Chamber of Commerce.
THE OPIUM COMMISSION.
OPENING CREMONY.
The opening of the International Opium Commission on the 1st inst. attracted consider- able attention in Shanghai. It was the principal topic of conversation during the day, and the large crowd that assembled outside the doors of the Palace Hotel to witness the arrival and departure of the Chinese officials and the dole- gates was a convincing proof of the widespread interest which was taken in the event.
!
The hour fixed for the opening ceremony was 11 a.m. and most of the delegates were on the scene of their future labours well ahead of time. The Viceroy himself set a good example in this respect. His Excellency's brougham, escorted by Sikh troopers and a detachment of native police on their unkempt but sturdy ponies, arrived at the hotel entrance at 10.45., From then until 11 there was a constant stream of arrivals; and both the electric lifts of the hotel were working at full presure to carry all the visitors to top floor.
The room in which the Commission meets is a commodious chamber at the East end of the new block, down a corridor opposite the main dining
room.
In close proximity are the offices of the American and Chinese Delegations, in the latter of which the Viceroy remained until the time for the ceremony arrived.
The session hall of the Commission is suitably furnished for the occasion with comfortable chairs and about twenty baize-covered tables, while the walls of the room are hung with the national flags of the respective delegates. Seats - were allocated by lot, each nationality drawing from a box the number of its table.
Attendance at the opening ceremony was strictly limited. Only the delegates, the Viceroy's suite, and a few representatives of the native and foreign press were admitted...
The entrance of China's High Commissioner was the signal for all present to rise to their feet, and they remained standing while the Viceroy, escort- ed by the members of his Foreign Department, threaded his way across the room, and mounted the Chairman's dais. Taking his seat, with a graceful sweep of his hand the Viceroy invited his audience to be seated. A photograph of the assembly was then taken, after which in low tones H. E. Tuan Fang explained the reason of his presence. e rose to his feet when reading the Decree appointing him High Commissioner for the special purpose of opening the Com mission, and everyone in the room stood until the reading of the Imperial mandate was finished. Another wave of the Viceregal hand and the audience resumed their seats. The Viceroy himself sat down, adjusted his spec-. tacles, and then in almost inaudible tones began to read his address. In a few seconds he appeared to gain confidence and raised his voice, so that most of his words could be heard throughout the room. Occasionally he paused in his reading, had a hurried consultation with one of his staff, and altered some phrase that was not to his liking. The speech was read from a crumpled manuscript in which several corrections and additions had already been made.
•
Having concluded the reading of his speech the Viceroy called upon Taotai Wan to read the English translation, and a minute or two lat r was engaged in audible conversation with member of his staff.
Tastai Wan came to the front of the platfrom, and read the translation of the Viceroy's address in loud clear tones. The translation read was as follows:
Gentlemen. On the 20th of September, 1906, an Imperial Ediet was issued prohibiting the cultivation and use of Opium throughout
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