§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the cultivation of opium in China is under observation and report, in order to ascertaining whether the recent edict of the Chinese Government is being effectively enforced within the Empire.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)In answer to other Questions I have already explained the difficulty of procuring trustworthy information as to the area of opium cultivation. But the Consuls in China will report to the best of their ability as to the manner in which the edict will be carried into effect.