§ 29. Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the House before it rises for the Recess any information regarding the disposal of the stocks of opium imported into China by British and British-Indian merchants, which remain unsold owing to the refusal or omission of the Chinese authorities to carry out their engagements with the British and British-Indian Administrations; whether there is any reason to suppose that his expectation of the speedy absorption of such stocks will be realised; whether he will explain how such expectation can be justified, in view of the extensive cultivations reported in the last official Reports from the opium-growing provinces; whether sufficient evidence is now on record to show that Chinese provinces have been prematurely closed to Indian opium, for which native Chinese opium is substituted; what guarantee His Majesty's Government and the Government of India have that this is not the real policy of the Chinese Government, and that the sacrifice of Indian revenue is not being made in vain; and what representations, if any, have been made by His Majesty's Government to the Chinese Government, in order -to make it clear that the shooting, burning, and looting of opium-cultivators and their homes must not be regarded as such an enforcement of a joint policy as public opinion in Britain can approve?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe opium in question is passing steadily into provinces which have not yet been closed to the import of opium, and there seems reason to expect that the whole will ultimately be absorbed, 2490 though within what period may be uncertain. There is still an effective demand in China for Indian opium, as there was when the cultivation of poppy in that country was more extensive than at present. In two or three of the provinces closed to Indian opium under the agreement there has been some recrudescence of poppy growing, but on a diminished scale. His Majesty's Government have no reason to suppose that the Chinese Government are not in earnest in their endeavours to suppress poppy cultivation. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, I may refer him to the reply given in this House on the 15th July.