February 15, 1909.]
the Empire within the period of ten years. According to a Report from the Ministry con- cerned the result of an inquiry into the question shows that up to the present progress has been made in reducing the area under cultivation of the poppy plant in the various provinces.
As a matter of fact, the area where the poppy has been cultivated in the Kiangnan portion of Kiangsu province, has been now reduced by eighty per cent while it is on record that from the six provinces of Shansi, Yunnan, Fukien, Anhui, Honan and Heilungkisag, or Northern Manchuria, memorials have been presented to the Throne reporting that the cultivation of the poppy will be entirely stopped by the winter of the present year in the above provinces. Even more than that, the gentry and merchants of the various provinces of the Empire have everywhere started societies to exhort and assist opium smokers to get rid of the baneful habit. For instance, we have an Association in Fukien province known as the Anti-Poison Society which has been making considerable progress in its campaign against the drug.
Indeed, from the present outlook, together with the state of Public Opinion throughout our Empire, there are great hopes that the consumption of Opium can be stopped in its entirety before the end of the prescribed limit of ten years.
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To-day it is my good fortune to be present at this International Conference having been appointed by Imperial Rescript to open the proceedings. I am convinced that the countries of the world recognize the benevolence and philanthropy which have led to the gathering of the present Conference in the interests of civilization, and I may state that
the people of our whole Empire are most grateful for it. It will need more eloquence than mine fittingly to express the cordial welcome with which our country hails the inauguration of this International Öpium Con- ference, but I may take this opportunity, first, respectfully to tender the thanks of my Govern- ment and that of the people of this Empire to the American Government for initiating the movement which has brought about this Con- ference, and next, to thank the Governments of the various countries here represented for so heartily joining in it.
As the Representative of the whole Empire I beg leave to give this Conference some of our ideas on the subject in view.
I may be permitted to express my belief that this Conference will be principally guided by feelings of reason, benevolence and philanthropy in its desire to eradicate a poison and a bane to mankind. This being universally recognised it becomes us to put aside all prejudices of nationality and race and be guided solely by that world-wide philanthropy and enlightenment which have brought about this. International Conference. For instance, the manner in which the Governments of the countries concerned have set about to stop the consumption of opium in their colonies and dependencies such as Formosa, Annam, the Philippine Islands, Java, etc., has been to undertake the monopoly of the sale of opium therein, a procedure which China alone has not yet put into actual force. As & matter of fact, the mere prohibition of opium without the Government having the monopoly of the sale of the drug will prevent the Government from learning the number of persons suffering from the habit, nor can it put into effect any laws for the suppression of opium consumption. Mr. Leech, Councillor of the British Legation in Peking, has stated "Whether China can completely obtain the good she seeks, without Government control of opium, both native-grown and imported, is somewhat doubtful, an opinion which gains my deep admiration for his wisdom and far-sightedness, and merits our sincere thanks for his warm sympathy in our endeavours. What, however, is to be apprehended is that Chinese merchants importing opium may claim that such a step will be contrary to former treaties and be disadvantageous to their trade and so oppose it, thereby preventing China from putting into effect a proper control over opium and the spread of the opium prohibition throughout the country. Thus not only will it not agree with the sincere in- tentions first expressed by the British Govern. ment to give every assistance to China but it
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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will also be a hindrance to the movement initiated | the Commission, it should be placed on an by the American Government; nor will it enable equality with English in its deliberation. the various countries represented in this Con- M. Kleimenow, Consul-General for Russia, ference to show their unanimity in assisting stated that proposal had his hearty support. this Conference to solve the questions before it. When the matter was explained to the Viceroy This is a matter to be regretted, indeed, and it is he appeared to be unwilling to decide such my earnest hope that this conference will knotty question off hand, but at once rosé and thoroughly go into this matter during its left the room. He superintended personally the deliberations.
alterations in his manuscript in the Chinese Reception Office, and then returned to his carriage and drove away. As he was leaving, the applause that greeted the election of Bishop - Brent to the position of Chairman of the Comm mission could be heard.
we may
It was at first intended to limit the abolition of opium in the Empire to ten years, but the various provinces have been able to so reduce the cultivation of the poppy that it would seem that this cultivation may be entirely stopped within the next couple of years. Moreover the sale of prepared opium has also been rapidly reduced to over one half, so that certainly be able to entirely stop the sale and consumption of the native grown opium within the prescribed limit of ten years. With the complete stoppage of our native grown opium it would follow that the importation of the foreign drug will also stop as a natural sequence. Such being the case the people of my country will have reason to congratulate themselves on what has gone before and this we owe to the assistance given by the British Government and to the labours of the American Government in initiating the movement which brought about this Conference. On the other hand the attempts of this Government to sup- press opium are hampered by existing treaties. Should a way be found by which such clauses in the treaties that restrict the freedom of my Government in its work of abolishing the consumption of the drug in the Empire may
be got over with, so that we may succeed in accom- plishing our great and important task-fortun ate indeed will it be for our Government and the people of this Empire. It is my earnest hope that this Conference will use its best endeavours to thresh out this question.
1
Immediately the Viceroy left the Commission held its first session in camera, After the election of Bishop Brent as Chairman, Mr. F. W. Carey of the Imperial Maritime Customs was appointed Secretary and M. Leon de Giéter, Assistant Secretary of the Commission.
It is understood that the question of making the deliberations bilingual will be decided by a sub-committee.
After the transaction of formal business the Commission adjourned until 2 p.m. to-day.
In the evening the delegates and the Consular Body were entertained to dinner by the Chinese Officials, but the Viceroy was unable to be present. This evening a dinner will be given the Commission by the American delegates, also in the Palace Hotel.-N. C. Daily News, Feb. 2nd
On the whole, since the main object of this Conference will be to consider the question. of putting a stop to the consumption of opium, fortunate indeed will it be for the whole world if by the labours of the Con- and bring about the abolition of opinm at ference a way be found to shorten the limit an early date, I do not think that national interests and division of races will be brought forward and produce difficulties between our countries, thereby hampering the work of opium abolition..
difficulties P
What is the meaning of the phrase "To seek for gain and yet fear to overcome The honourable gentlemen who are present this day as members the confer- ence have all been selected by their respective Governments for their benevolence, philanthropy and fame. Since such is the case I am certain that no one amongst this distinguished assem. bly will act contrary to the benevolent and enlightened objects which have brought them together here. I will therefore be the first to declare to this Conference that the Government and people of my country are determined to succeed in their object and will not by any means turn aside from accomplishing the task before them.
As to the methods to be employed in socom plishing this end the main idea will be to prohibit the cultivation of the poppy, the sale of the drug and the consumption thereof. It is only to be apprenhended that in putting into effect the law for this prohibition it may conflict with certain clauses of the treaties. Conference will It is my hope that this carefully investigate the matter beforehand so that there may be no misunderstandings in the future. In this my speech I do not know whether I have been successful in gaining the approval of the honourable gentle men of this distinguished assembly, but I am ready to receive such suggestions as may be instructive to me from this honourable assembly, whereby I shall indeed be fortunate. Therefore, I now declare this Conference open.
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Commission was engaged on business of a purely At its sittings on February 1 and 2, the formal nature, a Committee being meanwhile at work drawing up Rules of Procedure, etc: instant, M. de Gister notified his inability to On re-assembling at 11 a.m. on the 5th take up his duties as Assistant Secretary. M. Laforcade, Secretary to the French delegation, was therefore appointed Assistant Secretary, and Mr. True official stenographer to the Commission
The Committee on Rules and Order then presented its report, and the Rules drawn up were all accepted, with some amendments by the Commission, which adjourned at 12.30 p.m. should, on principle, be recognized as the lan- It was agreed that both English and French guages to be used in the Commission, and that steps should be taken to ensure that the deli- berations be rendered, if necessary, and. the minutes recorded in both languages.
The Commission met again at 2.30 p.m., and, after appointing a Press Committee listened to the summary of a report presented by the United States delegation, dealing with the opium question in America and the Philippines. Reports were also handed in by the British delegation (for Great Britain, Australia, Hong- kong, Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, and Federated Malay States, and Weihaiwei), and the Japanese delegation (for Japan and Formosa).
A few remarks were offered on presentation of these reports, but there was no debate, it being understood that members of the several delegations will require time to study the reports, before they will be in a posi tion to discuss any portion of them.
China will hand in a report on Monday morning, whilst the reports from India and Canada, and those prepared by the other delega tions, will be presented later.
The Commission did not sit on Saturday, and at 3.30 p.m, it adjourned until 11 am, on Monday the 3th instant.
The Commisson resumed its sittings at 10:30 on Monday morning last.
Mr. Tang Kai-son presented a report dealing with the opium question in China, with explana- tory remarks as to the sources of information that had been drawn upon. He reviewed the situation in hina generally, and announced that a Supplementary Report, embodying later news concerning the anti-opium movement, etc., would be laid on the table at some future date.
The report Germany (including Kisochon) was presented by Dr. Rössler and the Nether- lands Report by M. de Jongh
Immediately after the Viceroy's speech had been read M. Ratard Consul General and Senior Commissioner for France rose, and
The Commission adjourned at 12.30 p.m., and addressing the Viceroy in French, preferred
on re-assembling at 2 p.m. listened to a report on a request that French should be the official language of the Commission. He referred to Siam presented by Phya Sakdi Seni. ⠀⠀ Thờ the Waiwapu's order that the French tongue reports of other delegations not being ready for should be the official medium of diplomatic inter-presentation, the Commission adjourned at 3 course, and asked that, if not the language of p.m. till Wednesday at 10, 0 a.m.
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