class="right2">236,420

Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 76,817 129,545 French
Indo-China 212,247 76,333 50,345 52,673 84,742 118,933 207,287 207,722 325,500 99,018 Other
Countries 58,668 65,705 76,418 82,361 49,616 41,107 17,366 45,565 36,420 15,659 Total 6,980,110 7,082,295 6,314,512 6,205,281 5,781,652 6,232,829 6,209,105 8,509,316 8,726,060 7,481,088

Page 196

Table 170

Congressional Library HA 1713-A3-Ref.

From Statistical Abstract Relating to British India, 1905-6 to 1911-15.
Page 181. Table 164. Exports of Opium to Various Countries.

		1910-11	1911-12	1912-13	1913-14	1914-15
French Indo-China					£129,502	291,425
Java					472,199	282,252
Siam					164,030	204,328
China-Hongkong					1,084,093	110,712
Straits Settlements					226,500	80,572
United Kingdom		927	2,907	1,180	18,433	58,148
Treaty Ports, China					27,833	0
Macao					18,295	0
Japan					119,913	100,659
Other countries					19,223	47,543
Total	£2,280,031					1,175,639

 

III

JAPAN AS AN OPIUM DISTRIBUTOR

In an article which appeared in the New York Times, under date of February 14, 1919, we read: "A charge that the Japanese Government secretly fosters the morphia traffic in China and other countries in the Far East is made by a correspondent in the North China Herald in its issue of December 21st last. The correspondent asserts that the traffic has the financial support of the Bank of Japan, and that the Japanese postal service in China aids, although 'Japan is a signatory to the agreement which forbids the import into China of morphia or of any appliances used in its manufacture or application.'

"Morphia no longer can be purchased in Europe, the correspondent writes. The seat of industry has been transferred to Japan, and morphia is now manufactured by the Japanese themselves. Literally, tens of millions of yen are transferred annually from China to Japan for the payment of Japanese morphia....

"In South China, morphia is sold by Chinese peddlers, each of whom carries a passport certifying that he is a native of Formosa, and therefore entitled to Japanese protection. Japanese drug stores throughout China carry large stocks of morphia. Japanese medicine vendors look to morphia for their largest profits. Wherever Japanese are predominant, there the trade flourishes. Through Dairen, morphia circulates throughout Manchuria and the province adjoining; through Tsingtao, morphia is distributed over Shantung province, Anhui, and Kiangsu, while from Formosa morphia is carried with opium and other contraband by motor-driven fishing boats to some point on the mainland, from which it is distributed throughout the province of Fukien and the north of Kuangtung. Everywhere it is sold by Japanese under extra-territorial protection."

The article is rather long, and proves beyond doubt the existence of a well-organized and tremendous smuggling business, by means of which China is being deluged with morphia. In the body of the article we find this paragraph:

"While the morphia traffic is large, there is every reason to believe that the opium traffic upon which Japan is embarking with enthusiasm, is likely to prove even more lucrative. In the Calcutta opium sales, Japan has become one of the considerable purchasers of Indian opium.... Sold by the Government of India, this opium is exported under permits applied for by the Japanese Government, is shipped to Kobe, and from Kobe is transshipped to Tsingtao. Large profits are made in this trade, in which are interested some of the leading firms of Japan."

This article appears to be largely anti-Japanese. In fact, more anti-Japanese than anti-opium. Anti-Japanese sentiment in America is played upon by showing up the Japanese as smugglers of opium. The part the British Government plays in this traffic is not emphasized. "In the Calcutta opium sales, Japan has become one of the considerable purchasers of Indian opium ... sold by the Government of India." We are asked to condemn the Japanese, who purchase their stocks of opium as individuals, and who distribute it in the capacity of smugglers. We are not asked to censure the British Government which produces, manufactures and sells this opium as a State monopoly. We are asked to denounce the Japanese and their nefarious smuggling and shameful traffic, but the source of supply, which depends upon these smugglers as customers at the monthly auctions, is above reproach. A delicate ethical distinction.

However, there is no doubt that the Japanese are ardent smugglers. In an article in the March, 1919, number of "Asia" by Putnam Weale, we find the following bit: