Correspondence respecting the opium question in China.

Date:
[1908]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Correspondence respecting the opium question in China. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    50/58 (page 44)
    Art. 10. To enter into negotiations for the prohibition cf the import of foreign opium in order to close the sources of the supply. than is required for its own consumption. ae Negotiations are being conducted with His Majesty’s Government, and the reply of the Chinese Government to the counter-proposals of the Indian Government is still awaited. The essential features of these negotiations were as follows: China proposed to annually restrict the import of Indian opium so that it would totally disappear within ten years, and in the meanwhile to donble the import duty on Indian opium, which they alleged contained double the strength of the native-grown drug. The Indian Govern- ment, in reply, accepted unreservedly the good faith of the Chinese Government in putting forth this project of reform, were willing to face the eventual loss of 3,000,000/. annual revenue at present derived from opium, but suggested that instead of China restricting the import of Indian opium the Government of India should reduce the eross export from India for a period of three years, and that this progressive diminution should continue after these three years if within that period of three years the produc- tion and consumption of opium in China had been preportionately diminished by the Chinese Government, and if the restrictions of the import of Turkish, Persian, and other opium had been arranged for and carried out simultaneously. The proposed increased duty on Indian opium was considered undesirable for various reasons, and the Chinese contention as to the relative strength of the two kinds (Indian and Chinese) not proven. Here the matter stands, and the reply of the Chinese Government awaited. Should these counter-proposals of the Indian Government be favourably received by the Chinese Government, it is much to be hoped that in approaching the Governments of the other Treaty Powers on the subject they will meet, not ‘only with the same self-sacrificing spirit which has been shown by the Government of India, but with the national scourge. 7 oR. Bele The importation of Indian opium into China in 1906 was 53,4380 piculs, while the total importation from other sources was only 795 piculs, from which it will be seen that the pecuniary interest of other countries in the trade is practically non-existent. Art. 11. All Tartar Generals, Governors-General, and Governors of provinces should direct the civil and military authorities in their jurisdictions to issue Proclamations promulgating these Rules for earnest observance, This Article has been complied with. As foreign nations occupy a peculiar position in China by virtue of their Conces- sions, Settlements, and leased territories, it will be well to draw attention to the steps they have each taken to uphold or carry out the principles of the Opium Edict. Germany.—No opium dens have ever been allowed in the two German Concessions at Tien-tsin and Hankow, and the same may be said of Tsingtao, the new town created in the German leased territory of Kiauchow. Japan.—No opium dens are permitted in the Japanese Concessions, as far as is known. In some of the Settlements measures are being taken, at the request of the Chinese authorities, to prevent smoking by Chinese, but at Antung there are any number of dens in use in the Japanese Settlement. Russia.—There are only two Concessions, Hankow and ‘Tien-tsin. In the former opium smoking is prohibited by order of the Municipal Council. In the latter the Russian Consul has been instructed to act with his colleagues in the matter of the suppression of smoking. In regard to the leased railway territory, the Administration has come to an understanding with the Chinese authorities with a view to enforcing the Opium Regulations in the near future. America has no independent Concessions. Frence.—All dens have been closed in the French Concession at Tien-tsin. At Shanghae, where there is an independent French Concession, the measures adopted have not been of so radical a nature. No new licences have been issued by the municipality since the Ist July last. The licence tax has been increased fourfold, and females prohibited from entering the establishments, with the result that twenty-five dens have found it necessary to close their doors. England.—There are now no opium establishments of any kind in any of the British Concessions in China, and’ the International Settlement in Shanghae is the only one which has to be considered in connection with Article 5 of the Decree. —