File No. 774/116–118.
Minister Rockhill
to the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Peking,July 25,
1907.
No. 675.]
Sir: In continuation of my dispatch, No. 664 of
July 10, I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of a note which I
addressed to the Prince of Ch’ing on the 15th instant, upon the receipt
of your cablegram of the 12th idem., and the reply received on the 23d
from the Prince of Ch’ing, accepting in principle the opium
commission.
In my interview with H. E. Na-tung on the 19th instant he informed me
that the reason why his Government had not accepted and consented to
cooperate with the proposed commission had been its strong
disinclination to see a commission composed of representatives of seven
or eight different nationalities traveling all over China investigating
the question of opium production. He felt sure it would be exposed to
danger in the remoter sections of the country, and that the Imperial
Government could not incur such responsibility. When I told him that my
understanding of the plan of operation of the commission was that each
nationality represented should make the investigation agreed upon in its
own country, he said that China had then absolutely no objection to
giving its adhesion to the scheme and that he would write me officially
to that effect in a few days, which he did on the 23d.
I have the honor to confirm as follows the cablegram I sent you on the
receipt of this note of the Prince of Ch’ing:a I have, etc.,
[Page 165]
[Inclosure 1.]
Minister Rockhill to the Prince of
Ch’ing.
American Legation,
Peking,July 15,
1907.
No. 280.]
Your Imperial Highness: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your imperial highness’s note of the 9th
instant in reply to mine of June 22 last, communicating the proposal
made by my Government to the Governments of France, Germany, Great
Britain, Holland, and Japan, to join it in appointing commissioners
to cooperate in an investigation of the opium question, and
transmitting a cablegram from the American Secretary of State,
requesting to know whether or not the Chinese Government would join
in such an investigation.
Your imperial highness replies that China is not yet aware of the
methods which will be followed in making the investigation, and
therefore has no definite proposition which she can consider or to
which she can reply.
I fear that your imperial highness may not have fully understood my
note of June 22. The general scope of the proposed investigation is
clearly set forth in the opening paragraph of that note, which
states that it is to be an impartial investigation of the opium
trade and the opium habit with a view to their suppression, and that
the investigation, so it is proposed, is to take note not only of
the general material effects of the traffic and the habit, but is to
be of a scientific character as well. The second paragraph of the
note referred to states further that it is proposed to investigate
the matter of the importation of opium into China and that of opium
production in China.
It is well known to your imperial highness that all the powers which
have signified their willingness to take part in this investigation
have territorial possessions in Asia in which opium is grown or into
which it is imported, and that all are therefore deeply interested
in the regulation of the traffic and in the adoption of measures for
the rescue of their people from the ill effects of the opium-using
habit. As for the manner in which the investigation shall be
conducted the commissioners themselves, after they shall have met
together, must consider and decide upon such details, but none of
the governments represented will be bound to accept the conclusions
of the commissioners or to act upon their recommendations. The
commissioners of each government will report to their own government
the results of the investigation, and each government will reserve
to itself the right to act as it may see fit.
Immediately upon the receipt of your imperial highness’ note of the
9th instant I communicated its contents by cablegram to my
Government, and am now in receipt of its reply saying that methods
of investigation and other details are left to the determination of
the powers cooperating, and that all that is now asked is that China
will consent to the general principle of a joint commission for the
investigation of the opium question, including the importation of
foreign opium.
I trust that the above explanation will make clear to your imperial
highness the meaning of the proposal submitted to the consideration
of your imperial highness’ Government, and that I may be favored at
an early date with a reply, assenting to the general principle of a
joint commission, as proposed, for the investigation of the opium
question, in which your imperial highness’ Government has shown
itself so deeply interested.
I avail myself, etc.,
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
The Prince of Ch’ing
to Minister Rockhill.
Foreign Office,
Peking,July 23,
1907.
No. 306.]
Your Excellency: With regard to the
proposal to appoint a commission to investigate the opium question,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s
note of the 15th instant in which you explain clearly the meaning of
the first and second paragraphs of your previous dispatch. In the
note under acknowledgment you also make the following statements:
[Page 166]
- (1)
- “As for the manner in which the investigation shall be
conducted the commissioners themselves, after they shall
have met together, must consider and decide upon such
details, but none of the governments represented will be
bound to accept the conclusions of the commissioners or to
act upon their recommendations Each government will reserve
to itself the right to act as it may see fit.”
- (2)
- “All that is now asked is that China will consent to the
general principle of a joint commission for the
investigation of the opium question.”
- (3)
- “I trust that I may be favored at an early date with a
reply assenting “to such general principle.
In reply I have the honor to state that the Chinese Government is
determined in its effort to prohibit the use of opium, but, not
understanding the method of investigation which would be pursued by
the commission, my board could not conveniently assent to the
proposal before. Now, however, we have read your excellency’s second
note, in which your Government’s proposal is clearly explained.
Moreover, your excellency called at the foreign office on the 19th
instant and explained that after the method of investigation shall
have been agreed upon by the commissioners each government will
itself make the investigation within its own territory. This is the
general plan as my board understands it, and to this proposal we can
consent. We will select and appoint a competent commissioner, and as
soon as all the commissioners together have decided upon the method
of investigation to be pursued China herself will carry out the
investigation in all the Provinces.
It becomes my duty to send this note to your excellency for your
information, and I request that you will forward this reply to the
Department of State.
[Seal of the Waiwu Pu.]
