THE "DOPE" WAR IN CHINA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 142, 11 March 1919, Page 9

THE "DOPE" WAR IN CHINA

SCOTCHING THE OPIUM TRAFFIC PRESIDENT'S STRONG ACTION President Hsu Shih-ch'nng of China has shown marked independence and patriotism bv a decree ordering tho destruction of "1500 chest's of opium (valued at in Shanghai (states a recent cablegram to the American Press). This. is the entiro lot lately bought from tho Shanghai Opium Combine. Considering the financial weakness, of the Chinese Government, this act deserves special recognition. It also marks the President's personal strength of character, as it was generally understood that somo of the strongest political men had largo interests' in the opium and were counting on munificent profits. , Commenting on the foregoing statement, the "Oriental News" (the. New York organ of the Far Eastern Bureau) says: "Tho decision of the .Chineso President, Hsu Shih-ch'ang, to bum the slock of opium acquired bv influential Chinese from tho Shanghai Opium Combine for tho piwposo of reopening tho traffic in . China, is a matter for prnifja and congratulation not only from Chinese, but from ' all civilised nations. Tho President has risen to the occasion in a conclusive nnd effective way. The loss of the ,62,800,000 stock, to say nothing of the loss to the Government of millions in revenue, and- at a time when the country is in financial straits.-the loss of popularity among certain official circles personally interested in continuing the traffic seem to haveweighed little in the President's mind before the significance to the Chinese-na-tion of tho proposed backward stop. Some nations whose voices have been raised loudest in protest against developments in "backward" and "uncivilised" Chum might well take a leaf out of Chinas book and attempt what she has accomplished, the eradication of their own particular national evils. It is interesting to .note that the .Western Press makes announcement of Preoklent Hsu's decision as the result of thn protest of Great Britain and the United States. That thev had inHuence on the Chinese attitude if.: not to be doubted; but tho strong sentiment of native Chinesa- of the better classes should not be lost sight of." . "Provincial' governors and influential Chinese citizens have worked . hand-in-hand with foreigners to fight tho evil. It is very interesting to note tho pre-paratory-measures taken by the four provinces in which the new opium syndicate was licensed to sell the stock it had purchased from the Shanghai Opium, Combine 'These provinces, Kiongsu, Kiangsi, Chekiang, and Hupeh, had determined on the following measures:— 1. If the opium dealer be a shopkeeper, all the banks and money shops shall refuse to have anything to do with him- in monev matters, so that he will have- to close "his shop for lack of funds and banking facilities. (The Chinese have wng known the efficacy of the boycott. Both the United States and Japan have felt its force.) . , 2. If an employee of a shop' deals 111 opium the shopkeeper shall dismiss the man, whoso name will bo published in the newspapers, so that he will not be able to find employment elsewhere. 3. If a wealthy ' man be discovered dealing in opium, hi 3 name «hould be given to the elder of his family, with tho bequest that the guilty person be cast out from the family (one of the greatest of disgraces), and he shall be opposed by all as an alien without mercy. 1. landlords and landladies shall not rent their -houses to opium dealers. If (hoy do, they will bo dealt with as if they were opium dealers themselves, i 5. If damage is done to opium deaiers I and their properties, tho Chamber of I Commerce shall refuso to grant compensation. , "We aire inclined to think that even had the syndicate been permitted to follow its commercial earner it would not have found very easy sledding, sineo tho only provinces, in which, it was licensed to do business were ready armed to v meet it." ;■