The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED TII EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1913. THE OPIUM TRADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 62, 18 July 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED TII EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1913. THE OPIUM TRADE.

When the Just mails [eft England General Chang, President of the Chinese National Anti-Opium Society, had just addressed a large gathering of members of Parliament in one of the general committee-rooms of the House of Commons with reference to the stocks of opium which have accumulated at the treaty ports. These stocks are stated to be valued at sonic £B,UUU,OOO. How to dispose of them fc, of course, a most difficult problem. General Chang and those whom he represents desire that China should l)e relieved from their obligation to admit them, and their desire is not unreasonable seeing that the Republic have used very stringent measures in their own province to put a sto-, to the use of opium, and that at tin present rate of consumption it would take thirteen months or more to absorb these stocks. To buy up the 1 stuff by private subscription and destroy it i« impossible in view of the great sum of money involved. Nor Iwould it, in the opinion of those who have given the matter very close, attention from all points of view, be. just or practicable to ask the Government of India to deplete their revenues further hv a sum estimated at six

or seven millions by stopping production for the non-Chinese market and taking up the stocKs at Shanghai. Perhaps a more acceptable proposal is that advocated by Dr. Welldon, who accompanied General Chang—namely, that by an arrangement between the British Government and the Chinese Republic the money now due to Britain in respect of the Boxer Indemnity should be remitted so ais to enable the authorities in China themselves to purchase and destroy the stocks. Doubt is, however, expressed by many, members as to the practicability of] this from a financial standpoint, though '

some writers go so far as to say that this course would be welcomed both in China and in Britain as a substantial measure of reparation of injuries inflicted upon China by British policy in the past, »

RUSSIAN POLITENESS. According to a Russian custom, writes a correspondent of the "Guardian," it is a mark of special politeness for a lady to hand her teacup to a gentleman who takes a sip and then returns the cup. A little while ago, some Russians came to Scotland to attend a conference. They wore in- 1 vited to an afternoon reception given in honor of the delegates. One of them was introduced to a lady there, and was soon engaged in conversation with her. He poured tea for them both, and they chatted agreeably while they' drank it. When the lady had finished she handed her cup to her companion that it might lay it down, but what was her horror to see him lift the enp, make a low bow, and solemnly drink the dreg» J On the other side, what must the gallant Russian's opinion be on the subject of Scotch stinginess?