New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-25
Hundreds KILLED IN
CHINESE OPIUM WAR
Inhabitants of Fu-kien Province
Resist Governments De-
stroying Poppy Plants.
BRITAIN IN A QUANDARY
strict Compliance with Treaty
Would Entail Condemnation
Otherwise S50,00O,OOO
Loss Is Likely.

yekins. China. Feb. 2f.-Iiundrcds OF in
,.N,ants Of the Province Of Fu-klen have
-, killed during the last week or so
.,,;n Offering armed resistance to the
.,r,rnmcnt troops engaged i'm DESTROYING
-, poppy plants. according 10 an official
,,oort from the Governor OF Fu-kicn. re-
lived here to-day. which is confirmed by
several missionaries.
IN MANY districts OF China the peonle
have recognized the governments stern
ourpose and have themselves rooted up
the peoples
An American missionary. the Rcv. AT
,brr II. Smith. in letter published in
tho newspapers with the object Of stir
ring the Chinese officials 10 DO their best
in the matt r. says that China has made
more progress in the fight against opium
than has any country of which he has any
kuowledsc ever made against similar
evils
The International Reform Bureau.
which vii meet In conference here on
March (. will start a campaign OF drastic
and united action in order TO give the
death blow 10 the opium traffic Dele
gates from all the provinces Of China will
attend. and among the steps 10 bc taken
will be az appeal 20 the National Assem-
bly, 10 empower the military throughout:
the republic 10 suppress by force the cul-
tva,ion of the poppy. and demand viii
be made for an agreement between the
British and Chinese governments COM
netely prohibiting the opiCm trade.
London Fob. 94.--1nc Bu,.sn govern
ment is in quandary over the opium
dispute with China. Should the Foreign
Office do as II is being urged by Indian
opium merchants and bankers. tnL insist
On China strictly complying with the
Ango-Chinesc treaty. which regulates the
importation OF Indian opium INFO China.
he government would re condemned by 4
very strong body Of public opinion Which
objects 20 the government encouraging
the trade in any way. On tho other hand.
Unless some action is ,akcn 70 MAKE China
observe the treaty. the bankers and
traders are threatened with e. loss aGgre-
ga,ins 100000. which they might justly
call on the Indian government to refund
them.
The Anglo Chinese treaty. which pro-
vded for a 10 per cent reduction annually
in the importation OF Indian opium into
China and the complete extinction OF the
trade in seven years. also stipulated that
Indian opium should be declared from
provinces I'm which the cultivation Of the
domestic plant had ceased In return
China was 10 remove certain restrictions
that the provincial authorities had placed
on the wholesale trade in Indian opium
Complaints have Oeen lodged at the
British Legation at Picking thaS China
has violated the treaty in almost every
PARTICULAR. Provincial authorities have
held UP and destroyed Indian opium
which has paid the nigh duty. fne Brit
ism Minister brought the complaints L"
the attention Of the Chinese government.
but thus far efforts 10 secure satisfaction
have failed.
Chinas reply is that she Is making a
determined effort 10 stamp out the opium
evil. and that she already has greatly re-
duced the cultivation of the product.