§ 2. Sir JOHN M'CALLUMasked if the Chinese Government is under treaty obligation to permit its subjects to buy any noxious drug other than opium, for instance, morphia or cocaine; and is it free to forbid the importation of opium from every other country except our own, and does it exercise such freedom to prohibit such importation?
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; as regards the second part of the question, China is free to prohibit the importation of opium from most foreign countries, including Persia and Turkey, but the provisions of the additional article of the Chefoo Convention apply to opium imported from Macao, and there is some doubt as regards Kiaochau.
§ 3. Sir J. M'CALLUMasked whether the Chinese Government has, by means of the most drastic measures, largely succeeded in stamping out the production of opium by its own subjects; have such means involved the loss of hundreds of its subjects' lives, the immediate sacrifice of considerable national and provincial revenue, and enormous financial losses to its own 2625 subjects; and, if so, will His Majesty's Government take measures at once to free China from the further infliction of a traffic thrice declared by this House to be morally indefensible?
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part of the question His Majesty's Government have no other information than what, was contained in the recent White Paper, No. 2, China. As regards the last part of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the announcements which His Majesty's Government have already made on the subject of the opium question and the progressive steps that have been taken by them.
§ Mr. LYNCHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman how long this country intends to occupy a privileged position with regard to profits on Chinese vice?
§ Mr. THEODORE TAYLORAre we to take it that His Majesty's Government have decided not to release them from the obligation to take any further Indian opium?
§ Sir E. GREYWith regard to the first supplementary question it contains an assumption which I do not consider well founded, and with regard to the second there is a question on the Paper on that point.
§ 4. Mr. THEODORE TAYLORasked whether during the past winter in several provinces in China, notably Fukien, there were local rebellions by opium farmers against the central Chinese Government's anti-opium edicts; that such rebellions had to be quelled by armed force, and that many hundreds, probably thousands, of lives were lost; and has he any information that these local rebellions have greatly aggravated the difficulties of the central Government of China and have helped to bring about the civil war now in progress there?
§ Sir E. GREYHis Majesty's Government have no other information than that contained in the reports from His Majesty's Legation at Peking which were recently laid on the Table. There is no reason to suppose that there is any connection between the anti-opium edicts and the civil war.
§ 5. Mr. THEODORE TAYLORasked whether His Majesty's Government has 2626 received from the Chinese Government a request to be released from the obligation to purchase any further Indian opium; if so, when was that request received; whether such request was accompanied by an offer by China to pay the freight to some other country of the stocks of Indian opium now awaiting entrance to China in the treaty ports; and what was the answer of His Majesty's Government?
§ Sir E. GREYThe reply is in the affirmative. The Chinese Government's proposal was made in June. His Majesty's Government have not yet sent a reply to the Chinese Government, but we cannot undertake to agree to the proposal except as regards provinces where production of native opium has ceased.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLHow long is this country to labour under the imputation of imposing this evil on China?
§ Sir E. GREYWe promised China that pari passu with the restriction of the production of opium in China our exports of opium to China would cease.
§ 6. Mr. THEODORE TAYLORasked if the opium shops in the Chinese-governed city of Shanghai are all closed; if so, does this closing cause loss of revenue to the Chinese authorities; has the number of opium shops in the foreign settlement of Shanghai lately increased, and how many such opium shops are now open there; is the municipal authority of the Shanghai foreign settlement mainly British; and will His Majesty's Government induce it to follow the example of the Chinese city and suppress the retail sale of opium there?
§ Sir E. GREYI have no information as regards the first three parts of the question, but I am aware that a Proclamation was issued at Shanghai last winter by the Chinese Civil Administrator, ordering all opium shops to be closed by 31st December last. The Shanghai Municipal Council is an independent international body, over which His Majesty's Government have no control, though I believe the majority of the members are British subjects.
§ Mr. THEODORE TAYLORHave the Government no means whatever of influencing the Shanghai Municipal Council?
§ Sir E. GREYWe cannot control that body.
§ 7. Mr. THEODORE TAYLORasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communication from the municipal authority or from the residents in the foreign settlement of Shanghai, asking for the annexation of a further portion of Chinese territory to the foreign settlement there; if so, whether His Majesty's Government intend to take any action in response to such request; and, if so, what action?
§ Sir E. GREYThe proposed extension of the international settlement at Shanghai is a matter which has been under the notice of His Majesty's Government for several years past, but no recent communication has been received from the Municipality on the subject. His Majesty's Government have always been prepared, as they still are, to support any reasonable scheme of extension which may be initiated by the Consular body at Shanghai and receive the approval of the Diplomatic Representatives at Peking.
§ Mr. THEODORE TAYLORAre we to understand that the Chinese Government is included amongst the foreign diplomatic representatives?
§ Sir E. GREYOf course the Chinese Government is not included among the foreign diplomatic representatives at Pekin. This is a question which has to be discussed between those representatives and the Chinese Government.
§ Mr. BOOTHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the outskirts of Shanghai Municipality there are a number of gambling places which are a source of considerable trouble owing to people who are wanted by the police escaping over the border?
§ Sir E. GREYI cannot answer in detail, but I am aware there has been a desire expressed for an extension of international settlement.
§ 8. Mr. THEODORE TAYLORasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the public opinion in China against the continuance of our compulsion upon her to take our Indian opium; that such compulsion is a continual source of friction and difficulty with the Chinese officials; and whether be can now see his Way to terminating such compulsion at once?
§ Sir E. GREYThe compulsion to which the hon. Member refers is the obligation of China to carry out the agreement, 2628 freely entered into by her Government, and, as has already been stated, His Majesty's Government see no justification for releasing her from that obligation except as regards provinces where production of native opium has ceased.
§ Mr. THEODORE TAYLORAre we to understand that the Government have finally decided, whatever sacrifices are made by China, they will go on compelling that country to take Indian opium for an indefinite period?
§ Sir E. GREYThat is not a fair inference to draw from my answer. A fair inference would be that wherever China succeeds in stopping the production of opium in her borders, we on our part withdraw our claim to import Indian opium.