§ 19. Sir J. D. REESasked the Undersecretary of State for India, whether, in view of the facts that the present Government of China is only provisional, has made no official declaration of its intention to assume the obligations of the late Imperial Government, and has not effective control of the cultivation in many of the provinces of China, the Government of India will, in the interest of the Indian taxpayer, suspend for the present the operation of the opium agreement between India and China?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on Monday last to a similar question of the hon. Member.
§ 20. Sir J. D. REESasked the Undersecretary of State for India whether he was aware that representations have been made by the leading opium merchants to the Governor-General in Council to the effect that the resumption of the culture of opium is unchecked in China; that in several of the most important of the provinces free and unrestricted cultivation of the poppy proceeds; that the present Chinese Government is evidently unable to secure the observance of treaties by its own provincial authorities; that Chinese merchants who have bought Indian opium are being obstructed by the provincial authorities at the instigation of the principal authorities and refuse to admit it, in defiance of existing treaties; and, if so, what action is being taken in the interests of British trade and British-Indian taxpayers?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Secretary of State is aware that a memorial to the effect stated has been presented by certain Indian opium merchants to the Government of India. Inquiry is being made into the facts, and the matter is engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government. His Majesty's Minister has already made, and will continue to make, representations to the Chinese Government 1822 against the obstructions placed in the way of trade in certificated Indian opium by the provincial authorities, but the difficulties of enforcing our rights under existing treaties are for the moment greatly increased by the fact mentioned by the hon. Member that the provisional Government in China are unable to impose their will upon the provincial Governments.
§ Sir J. D. REESWould it be just to the Indian taxpayer that the treaty should be suspended until China is able to carry out her part of it?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIf the hon. Gentleman will consider for a moment the terms of our agreement with China I am unable to see how any dislocation of that agreement to meet temporary circumstances would be of any benefit at all.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs the hon. Gentleman in a position to say that these circumstances are temporary, and how temporary?
§ Mr. MONTAGUWe are not in a position to say they are other than temporary.