§ 1. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in view of the facts that the Foreign Office has evidence of the inability of the central Government of Peking to impose its will upon the authorities of the provinces, that since the outbreak of the revolution China has signally failed to carry out the stipulation in Article I. of the Anglo-Chinese agreement of 8th May, 1911, providing for a progressive diminution of opium production throughout the country, and that there are at present no indications to warrant the hope that the central Government will be able in the near future to enforce the discontinuance of poppy cultivation, His Majesty's Government and the Government of India propose nevertheless to carry out their part of the agreement with the Chinese Government to the detriment of the Indian cultivator and the revenues of India?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)There is no present intention of withdrawing from the agreement on the grounds mentioned by the hon. Member, as His Majesty's Government wish to make full allowance for the difficulties in which the central Government of China is placed. But the question may have to be reconsidered hereafter in the light of circumstances.
§ Sir J. D. REESDoes the Secretary for Foreign Affairs realise that all this time the agreement is running to the prejudice of the other parties to it, the taxpayers of India?
§ Mr. ACLANDI think the Secretary of State fully realises the difficulty.