THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13370, 27 December 1906, Page 5

THE OPIUM TRAFFIC.

CHINA'S PROPOSALS TO GREAT

BRITAIN. SUPPRESSION WITHIN TEN" YEARS. By Telegraph.—l're«» Association.—Copyright, Peris'. December 25The Time* correspondent at; Pekin (Dr. Morrison), in an article to his paper, enumerates China's proposals to Great Britain' regarding the Indian opium traffic, including the restriction of importation by « China until the disappearance of the traffic within ten years. She is to double the import, duty on Indian opium and to immediately enforce the morphia treaty negotiated by Sir James Mackay in 1902 without awaiting the assent of othet Powers. Dr. Morrison adds that opium dens at Tientsin and elsewhere are being closed with relentless vigour by the authorities.

The suppression of the opium trade in China has been assented to by the British Government with the approval or the .Secretary for India (Mr. John Mor'.ey). The greaiei part of the opium smoked in China is grown in India. A report on the subject was made to the Throne of Chin* bv the Commissioners, who toured the L*uitcd .States and England this year, and an Imperial edict was issued in September last providing far the suppression of the trad© within 10 years by both native* and foreigners. The Chinese, Government, as f«.r back as 1796, made the importation of opium illegal, but the Jaw was not enforced, or rather the Government connived at the breaking of it. and the trade grew steadily until 1837, when it was decided to stop it rigorously. Some opium belonging to Englishmen was seized. 'This and other events led to what is known as the opium war, in which the Chinese lost so heavily, lingland got an indemnity and possession of Hongkong under the treaty of peace which was signed in 1842. It. is very doubtful whether the Chinese Government took its measures of 1857 from a. righteous desire tc stop an evil traffic, so much as from a de* sire to cut off a trade that was very profitable to the foreigners.