The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-31
CHINA'S GREAT OPIUM FIGHT.

i.
The ancient Empire of China, with
50o,o0o,oo0 Of people, a very large pro
portion Of them heretofore addicted to
the use of opium, is making a heroic
struggle to eliminate opium from the
Empire. The effort has been in pro-
gress now some three years. Ii took
form first in a popular movement, and
afterwards was made the subject of an
Imperial edict, in which the gradual
extinction Of the cultivation of the
poppy for the making of opium was de-
creed. In the current number of the
Forum. Rosa Pendleton Chiles gives a
full account of the movement.
The Imperial decree reduced the area
heretofore given to the cultivation Of
the poppy one-ninth each year for nine
years, this being afterwards changed
to one-teuth each year for ten years;
the amount Of acreage must be re.
corded in the title deeds; and the cul-
tiyation of the poppy on lands hitherto
not used for that purpose is forbidden.
Opium smokers are required to state
the accustomed daily amount used. by
each, and q certificate will be issued
to each smoker setting forth that
amount, and requiring the gradual re-
duction in use, the amount depending
upon the extent and habit of each user
as recorded in his certificate No new
certificates for the smoking of opium
are, to be granted. Within six months
all the opium shops containing lamps
for smoking are to be closed; the sale
Of opium lamps and pipes also to be
forbidden, and also the sale and use of
opium in restaurants and bars. Regis
tration of all opium shops is made
compulsory, and the opening of new
ones is forbidden. Medicines for the
cure of the opium habit are to be fur.
nished by the government, to be sold
at cost, or where the person is too poor
to buy, these will be dispensed free.
Anti opium societies to assist the gov.
ernment in the eradication Of the OPT.
um evil are fostered, and the registra-
tion Of smokers, cures, medicines dis,
tributed, and the work of anti-opium
societies in each province is to be re-
ported, and officials showing extra good
results in the work are to be rewarded
The prohibition of smoking by officials
is enjoined in a shorter time than that
set for the elimination of smoking by
the people, this for moral effect, and
officials that refuse TO meet this re-
quirement are TO be removed from Of
fee, The Foreign Office was directed
to negotiate a convention with Great
Britain for stopping the importation of
opium by the expiration of the time
set for the complete abolition of the
poppy culture in China. It appears,
therefore, that the Chinese government
has entered upon a definite and strict
programme whereby the cultivation Of
the poppy and the making of opium in
China Will be entirely eliminated in
ten years from the time it began, OF in
1917.
The compulsory importation of opium
from India was forced upon China by
Great Britain in the Infamous opium
war. The treaty which followed that
war required China to admit the opium
shipments Of India, 1t was manifest
to the Chinese government that, as
long as the provisions of this treaty
were in effect. it would be idle for
China to undertake TO radicate the use
of opium among Cinnamon. According.
~, an appeal was made 10 the British
government by the Chinese Foreign OF
fee, with the result that Great Britain
agrees 10 cut down the shipments of
opium from India TO China in the same
proportion and at the same rate that
China herself eliminates the culture of
the poppy from which 10 make the opi.
um. The result will be that, at the ex-
piration of the ten years specified. the
opium evil will, unless the programme
fails, have been completely eliminated
from China.
The agreement signed by the British
Minister, Sir John Jordan. with the |
Foreign Office in China on May s. 1911.
provides that China shall continue for
the ensuing seven years the same rate
Of diminution of the poppy culture