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Evening Star, Issue 14495, 21 February 1911, Page 4

Duhixcj their recent session the Congregivtioual Union, on the Motion of the Rev. D. Hird, of Palmerston North, unanimously passed tho following resolution : That His Majesty’s Government bo urged without delay to formally release Uhina from treaty obligations to admit opium; that tho Indian Government’s connection with the opium export trade be brought to an end ; that the financial deficit created by the cessation of opium revenue be mot by the British and Indian Governments in a way that shall not increase taxation oF Iho masses of the people in India nor injure the feudatory States concerned.

The Opium Traffic.

Tho further recommendation was agreed to that copies of the reeolation be forwarded to the Prime Minister of tho Dominion (Sir Jt 0. Ward), to the British Prime Minister (Mr Asquith), and to the Secretary for tho Colonies (Mr Lewis Harcourt). A few comments on a subject ihat ns pro perly regarded as of prime importance will, therefore, not bo out of place, particularly as there is not much hope that the Imperial Government, with whom the decision rests, will give effect to the terms of tho reso’ution. Their reasons, however, are not far to seek. Resolutions and memorials embodying almost identical sentiments ami making similar requests have been presented to the Homo Government on more than one occasion during recent years. These documents have been carefully and sympathetically studied (for tho Imperial authorities are as sincere in their desire to put down the opium traffic as are eoufereaces of Christian ministers), but the resultant conclusion was that were the Government, to. attempt to faring the Indian

export trade to “ an end without delay ” deplorable harm would be done to the Indian cultivators, and, more important still, there would be no corresponding benefit to China or the Chineee. It is desirable, wo think, that this aspect of the problem should not be overlooked, ns it constitutes the crux of the position. Fervid speeches and moral indignation are of value in their own time and place, but they should be qualified by knowledge, and, as Mr Hird remarked, “the average man was deplorably ignorant of the facts in connection with the opium traffic.” In this relation we can afford to put aside the early history of the trade, and cease to indulge in recriminatory admonitions and national confessions- of past sins. Wo shall then bo free to concentrate public effort on present possibilities, which are distinctly hopeful. A strong body of Chinese public opinion in favor of the abolition of the cultivation and consumption of opium induced the late Entpreas Dowager on November 22, 1906, to issue a decree providing for the extinction of the traffic. Subsequently, the British Government agreed to a gradual limitation of the Indian export, to extend over a total period of ten years, pari passu with the reduction of its cultivation in China. It was further understood that the first three years of tills period were to bo logardcd as experimental. We know now that excellent results have followed. There have been a diminution in the Indian export and a reduction of 25 per cent, in the area under cultivation in China, find the hope was indulged by careful, unbiased observers who know both China and India, that in time tho trade might be subdued. It is at thin stage in the reform that the enthusiast has entered with his “moral appeal” and his peremptory demand that, so far us India is concerned, the export of opium to China shall cease. Such a course, as wo have said, would, in tho judgment of those whoso reasons cannot well bo disregarded, both , fail of its purpose and inflict great suffering upon thousands of Indian agriculturists. China continues to grow opium—there has been an increase of cultivation, says ‘ Tho Times’s 1 correspondent, in Kansu and of Customs revenue from tho drug in Hupei—and tho cessation of Indian exports would simply mean an additional demand for tho honKs-grown article. Everything, in fact, depends upon China and the Chinese Government. To quote the same authority t

Even among the student class there appear to be some who realise that if drastic measures of total prohibition are now expedient and justified by public opinion, these measures should commence in China. They realise that if the Chinese Government and people are willing and able to take steps to enforce the immediate and total suppression of opium cultivation, they might then, with justice and reason, appeal to the British Government to put a stop forthwith to the export from India. But to do so while opium is being grown and sold in China would, in the opinion of many honest sympathisers with the movement, be productive of evil rather than good, for it would assuredly lead to the establishment of a monopoly in the hands of a class which, in all onr national experience, has been wont to put money before righteousness and expediency before good faith. What, then, remains for reformers throughout the English-speaking world to do is not to seek to rush the Imperial Government into a course whereby they may lose the substance in- an unwise impulse to grasp the shadow. They know there is a danger, and their resolutions recognise it. The last danse of that approved by the Congregational Union is a reproduction of that carried by the Anti-Opium Society and Christian Churches of Singapore, who admit that tho financial difficulties and what these signify must be taken into consideration. Hence it is that those critics who cannot endorse the course these resolutions commend urge “ leaving the gradual and systematic stoppage of the Indian trade to serve as a leverage in the hands of the British Government, enabling them to support anti-opium public fipinion in China through the inevitable ‘difficulties of the coming years, and to bring pressure to bear, whenever necessary or possible, on the Chinese Government or the provincial mandarins.”