Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-16
OPIUM WAR IN CHINA
Obstruction of England and
Other Foreign Nations.
PLEDGE GIVEN BY MORLEY
British Authorities Have Not Kept
Faith.
CONFERENCE AT SHANGHAI
Result of Correspondence Between
Secretary Root and the Euro
pean Powers.
CONFERENCE AT SHANGHAI
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Nearly two years ago the Empress
Dowager OF China issued an edict against
the cultivation and use of opium in that
empire and providing for the gradual ex-
termination of the evil. The edict has
been in force for twenty months and the
native government has used dilisent eff
forts to abolish the traffic. but has met
with resistance from foreign importers
and dealers in the drug and other resi-
dents, particularly British. A very large
part of the supply of opium in China
comes from India. where it is govern
ment monopoly, and the British authori-
ties may at any time prevent It's exporta
ton to China if they are willing to do So
Before the edict was promulgated. the
Chinese minister at London obtained
from John Morley. the minister of the
colonies. who has been sincere and con-
sistent opponent of the opium traffic for
many years. a distinct pledge that the
British government would aid China in
trying to suppress the evil and would
gradually restrict the export to that coun-
try so that within ten years 1t would en-
tirely cease But Mr.. Morleys pledges
have not been fulfilled. The exports from
India to China have not been reduced In
any way during the twenty months that
have passed.
The British authorities in India have not
kept faith They have never kept faith
with China on the opium traffic. The
British colony of Hongkong is a monu-
ment to British perfidy and a perpetual
reminder of the determination of the
British government to force the opium
traffic upon the Chinese people. The is
land upon which Hongkong stands was
exacted by England from the Chinese
loads of opium that were destroyed by the
Chinese to prevent their accursed cargoeS
from reaching the people.
The Indian government receives reVe-
nue. of more than ten million dollars
year from the opium traffic, and is not
willing to relinquish that advantage. An
agitation has been going on for hfty
years among the British people. There
have been several parliamentary com
missions appointed to measure the extent
Of the evil and recommend means for
the suppression Of the traffic. But the
opium growers and the revenue. off1ciais
of India have always been too strong
for the philanthropists, and they are now
proving powerful enough to prevent the
British government from carrying out
its promises.
For a quarter Of a century. to the
shame and disgrace of the Christian
world, the only place where Japanese
native could obtain pipe of opium was
under the protection of British consul
The opium fiends gathered in colonies
under the British flag at Yokohama and
other cities of Japan.
The sale of opium by native dealers
has been stopped in China except in the
foreign concessions. and they cannot be
reached because they protected by
the municipal councils. which are COM
posed OF foreigners.
officials Degraded.
The officials at Picking and the pro-
vincial capitals throughout the empire
of China who have been In the habit of
using opium were given six months to
discontinue the practice and were allowed
leaves OF absence for that period. Many
of them have returned to their posts
cured others are still struggling against
the habit and have been allowed furt her
| time officials who are more than sixty
wears old will not be interfered with, but
every person under that age. including
princes, dukes. viceroys. Tartar generals
and even members of the imperial family,
are required to report to a commission.
of which Prince kung Is the chairman,
whether they are obeying the edct.
The same commission has been COM
manded to make a thorough investigation
among the officials OF the government and
to report to the empress doWager the
names of all who continue to use opium
in any form They are Also instructed to
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