Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 3, 1907, (In two parts), Part I

File No. 774/99–102.

Minister Rockhill to the Secretary of State.

[Extracts.]

American Legation,
Peking,June 29, 1907.

No. 658.]

Sir: In continuation of my dispatch No. 619 of May 17 last, dealing with the Government’s endeavors to prohibit the cultivation of the poppy and the use of opium, I have the honor to inclose a copy of an imperial edict on the subject which was published on the 26th instant. It is broader in its terms than previous imperial commands on this subject, and while indicating the general line of conduct of officials and demanding energy, activity, and perseverance, leaves them sufficient latitude as to the best methods to be adopted in each province to carry out the most difficult part of this great reform, the stopping of the cultivation of the poppy.

All opium dens have been closed in Peking, Tientsin, the native city of Shanghai, Foochow, and a number of other large cities; probably also in a great many small ones. It is difficult to secure accurate information on the subject. It is regrettable that the municipal council of the international settlement of Shanghai and the rate payers do not evidence any particular disposition to close the opium dens in the settlement.

I inclose copy of the telegraphic report^a which the correspondent of The Times, Dr. G. E. Morrison, sent to his paper on the 19th May, which, though to my mind a trifle optimistic, is otherwise a very good statement of the progress made up to the present time. I may add that as regards morphia all the powers, Japan alone excepted, have given their assent to the enforcement of the provisions of Article XI of the British treaty of 1902 and Article XVI of our treaty of 1903. Strangely enough, China herself has not taken any steps to restrict the use of morphia, as she pledged herself to do in the article of our treaty above referred to.

I have, etc.,

W. W. Rockhill.

[Inclosure.—Translation.]

Imperial edict re prohibition of opium.

June 26, 1907.

Opium is the people’s great curse. An edict was promulgated last year forbidding its use, and exhorting the commission for government reform to draw up satisfactory regulations for its suppression. All metropolitan and provincial yamens were informed of this prohibition.

In the third moon of this year (i. e., May) we again exhorted all our officials to instruct their subordinates that the regulations with regard to the cultivation, trade in, and use of opium were to be rigorously enforced.^b The Throne is deeply concerned over the sufferings of the people, and what we have decided upon in this matter must certainly be carried out.

Let the tartars-general, viceroys, and governors of Shunt’ien and of the various provinces carefully direct their subordinates to take active measures to prohibit the use of opium. Let the matter be brought to the attention of every family and every individual, for this incurable disease must be rooted out. The customs officials must zealously look for foreign opium coming in at the ports. With regard to native production in the interior, it is still more important that this be diminished each year to a certain extent, as provided in the regulations, until production be stopped entirely at the expiration of the time allowed. All officials must therefore be carefully instructed to see that the plan is carried to completion. When any local officials have shown that they have vigorously carried out their instructions in this matter, and when there are visible results of their efforts, then their superiors may memorialize the Throne asking that they be specially rewarded for their efforts; but if there be any who try to cover up their lack of enterprise in this matter, or who openly receive but secretly disobey these orders, then it shall be the duty of their superiors to point them out and to impeach them severely, asking that they be rigorously punished.

In addition to this, directions are hereby given to make an accurate investigation of the acreage under (poppy) cultivation in China. Let diagrams be made, arranged by years, and submitted to us, that we may see if our orders are being properly carried out. By these means the Throne will be assisted in its determination to rid the people of this evil.

Respect this.

1. Not printed.
2. These “orders” were not published for general information. The substance of them was given in the local press, both Chinese and foreign, at the time.