Evening star., 1911-06-03
COSTS INDIA HEAVILY
Revenue Lost in SuppreSSing
Opium Exports to China.
DECREASING SHIPMENTS
May Practically Cease Within Next
Two Years.
BLOT ON ENGLISH ESCUTCHEON
Lord Morley Takes Steps in Con-
sonance With the Desires Of
People Of Great Britain.
DECREASING SHIPMENTS
BLOT ON ENGLISH ESCUTCHEON


Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
SAN FRANCISCO May %. 1911.
On May 8 a very important treaty was
signed at Picking by Sir John Jordan. the
British minister. and the Wai-wu-tu. or
foreign offlce. to hasten the suppression Of
the opium trade between India and China,
and 1t Is confidently believed that the
trahic will be entirely closed within the
next three or four years. While negotia-
tions have been going on for years, and
an International conference was held at
Shanghai not long ago to strengthen the
position and the purpose OF China. the re-
cent action Is attributed directly to the
influence of the missionary conference
held In Edinburgh last year. at which
the opinion of the Christian world was
expressed in emphatic terms. A day OF
humiliation and prayer was agreed upon
for October "a. 1911, which is the fiftieth
anniversary Of the ratification Of the
shameful treaty under which the opium
OF India was forced upon the people Of
China against the armed protest Of that
nation.
The rigorous policy of the Chinese gov
eminent also had an influence upon the
British conscience. The sincerity of the
present administration in putting an end
to the opium habit was recently mani
Tested by tho dismissal and degradation
OF eighty-eight officials of greater or less
prominence. who made the mistake of as
suming that the government was not in
earnest.
The new treaty is also attributed to a
series Of resolutions adopted by the
Chinese parliament in which the British
government Is appealed to In the most
earnest manner to encourage and assist
in the suppression OF the evil. regardless
OF the financial sacrifice that 1t involves
to the Indian government Lord Morley
is the first member OF the British cabinet
In charge Of Indian affairs who has been
willing to undertake that sacrifice, but he
has the approval and support Of q great
majority of the British people. who for
thirty years, have manifested their dis
satisfaction with the policy of the gov
eminent but have been powerless to Sc
cure q change.
Decrease in Opium Exports.
An agreement made between Great
Britain and China in the latter part OF
| the year 1907 provided for gradual re-
duction Of the Indian exports of opium
to China at the rate Of 500 chests an.
nually. 1t went into effect January l.
to import $500 chests. but only 2.12.
| chests were actually imported. In 1909
| under the treaty. China had the right
to import Al, 500 chests. but she actually
| than In the previous year. which was due
to the avarice Of speculative native mer-
| chants. who saw the price of the drug ad-
vancing rapidly and endeavored to get
long" on the supply for future sales
The opium merchants have never be-
lieved in the sincerity of the Chinese
government in this crusade, and, there
fore. they paid enormous prices. increased
- - ~ 49, Al>4e- g.
, rise. During the year 1909. however
;; they changed their minds and realized
. that their judgment had been at fault
SO that In 1910, instead of importing
:: 49, 100 chests. as they had right to dc
i under the treaty. they bought only 30.604
chests, and from the latest indications
i the imports for 1911, which, under the
treaty may amount to 81, 800 chests. are
not likely to exceed $1,000 or 1000 0at the
outside.
At this rate the traffic will terminate
entirely within four years, for the In
, dian government. which controls it. is
under obligation to reduce the exports
to China at the rate OF 500 chests pei
among those who are familiar with the
| situation that the imports will practically
cease within the next two years because
the enormous stock which the merchants
Of China must get rid Of before the end
of the ten years to which the use of the
drug Is limited. 1t is not likely that they
| will add to their supply. now that they
are convinced Of the determination of the
government. but will get rid of it before
Importing any more The accumulati tion
Of opium In the bonded stores is worth
$40 OOO. coo and will supply local con.
sumers for more than a year. II that is
true. the imports for 1912 will be merely
nominal and the traffic will terminate
automa tically.
This probability is made more certain
by the circumstance that England has
consented to an increase OF a hundred
per cent in the Chinese duty on opium.
which has been collected by the authori-
ties of several provinces during the past
year without regard to treaty rights.
Monument to Avarice.
It should be remembered in this connec-
ton that the British colony of Hong