893.114 N 16 Manchuria/34
The Consul General at Mukden (Myers) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 10.]
Subject: “Manchukuo” Opium Monopoly.
Sir: Supplementing my despatch No. 552, of March 10, 1933,39 under the above subject, I have the honor to report upon recent developments in connection with the establishment of the opium monopoly in this consular district.
The monopoly system began functioning in the latter part of March, 1933 and had gradually been extended since then. According to the press the retail dealers in Hsinking, twenty in number, opened their establishments for business on March 24 and at about the same time sixteen establishments were opened at Mukden. The number at Mukden has since been increased to 34 and according to reliable information this city is shortly to have about fifty licensed dealers. They conduct combined retail and opium smoking establishments.
In this connection, it has been learned that many illicit opium “joints” in this city have been closed due to the competition of the licensed dealers but that the authorities have taken no direct action to close them nor to stop the use of illicit opium. Very recently I was told that the police inspected these places and warned the proprietors that any increase in the number of opium lamps would result in their being heavily fined. That more of these poorly furnished illicit “joints” will be closed as the natural result of the availability of the more attractive and luxurious smoking establishments of the licensed retail dealers is expected. However, many unlicensed establishments will continue to thrive unless the authorities take drastic measures to close them. It may be mentioned that monopoly opium is sold to retail dealers in bars containing about 100 Chinese ounces (eight and one-third pounds) which bear revenue stamps.
According to a local press report dated May 6, 1933, the Fengtien Police Bureau ordered the police of the respective districts to notify smokers that they must secure opium smoking permits and that the purchase of illicit opium is strictly forbidden. The order also stated that opium smoking permits are obtainable from the licensed retailers. It is probable that this order is directed against the illicit “joints” as well as those who smoke in their homes; this requirement does not apply to persons who smoke in licensed establishments.
It has been learned from an official source that a cash deposit of Yuan 500 only is required of retail dealers. The cash deposit of [Page 324] wholesale dealers ranges from Yuan 50,000 for Liaoyuan, Chinhsien and Tsitsihar to Yuan 200,000 for Mukden. Interest at the rate of five per cent per annum is paid on these deposits.
According to press reports, the Monopoly Sales Bureau, the name of the governing organ, has ordered that poppy cultivation may be carried on as heretofore in Jehol and Hsingan Provinces but that it shall be limited to twelve specified districts in Kirin Province. The report gives the total area which may be cultivated in this province as 361,000 mou (60,133 acres). No information regarding Heilung-kiang Province is available but according to reports cultivation in Fengtien Province is entirely prohibited. However, from a reliable source, it has been learned that poppy is actually being grown in some ten districts. If illicit, as it is surmised, the crop may eventually be destroyed, at least in the more accessible places. Early in April the magistrates were instructed by the Provincial Government that except for the areas specified by the monopoly bureau cultivation shall not be permitted.
[Here follows report of items in a Jehol newspaper on opium traffic.]
In Bulletin No. 52, of April 15, 1933, issued by the Bureau of Information and Publicity, Department of Foreign Affairs, Hsinking, the area devoted to poppy cultivation in Jehol Province in 1932 was given as 600,000 mou (100,000 acres), a figure that seems small. In any case the present authorities hope to double last year’s acreage and as an encouragement have reduced the tax by half, or to Yuan 5 per mou. Furthermore, it is apparent from the above statement that the establishment of the monopoly system in Jehol Province is not intended—the same statement seems to be applicable to Hsingan Province also. However, in the interest of the monopoly all opium available for export to other provinces must be sold to the Monopoly Sales Bureau or its collecting agencies which have already been established at Chengte (Jehol), Lingyuan, Chihfeng and other places.
It was recently reported in the press that from April 24, 1933, the opium monopoly system of the Kwantung Leased Territory was extended to the South Manchuria Railway Zone. It is obvious that if the “Manchukuo” monopoly is to be rigorously enforced restrictions must also be placed on the traffic in the railway zone.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩