The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1911. CHINA'S MIRACLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 138, 3 August 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1911. CHINA'S MIRACLE.

Those who thoroughly understand the position and have carefully watched affairs contend that any lingering doubts that might have remained in prejudiced minds of the sincerity and thoroughness of China’s efforts to eradicate the poppy plant should he removed -by the report of Sir Alexander Hosie, which has been published- as a Foreign Office White Paper. It was known that China had reduced her homo production sixty to seventy per cent, during the three years since the issue of the anti-opium edict. Sir A. Hosic’s report confirms the belief that the poppy will have entirely disappeared from Chinese soil within two years. In that event the export from India will by virtue of the new treaty cease automatically within the same period. To appreciate the extent of the miracle a Horne writer says one must resort to analogy. It is as if the tobacco habit had come to an end in Europe a few years after a decision to that effect hy The Hague Conference. The population of the Chinese Empire is nearly that of Europe; the Central Government has hut little power of enforcing its will. Moreover, the opium crop was worth £23,000,000 an-, mially. Only a vast moral revolution affecting over 300,000,000 of peep!: could have effected this wonderful result.