Profitable Smuggling Trade to Kiangsi and Hupeh Peking, Jan. 30.
The following is the translation of a letter addressed ito the International Anti-Opium Association We have been repeatedly inform, ed by. letters from.our Kueichow people staying in Hunan and Hupeh that General Yuan Chu-ming of Kueichow smuggled a large quantity of opium weighing several thousand catties into the markets of Hupeh, Kiangsi, etc. Recently he bought 2.000 guns, 10,000,000 rounds of ammunition and 10 machine guns at Hanyang (Hupeh) at a cost of more than $500,000, This expense was entirely met with money gained from opium dealings. It is a fact that upon mutually advantageous conditions agreeable to Hsiao Yao-nan, Tuchun of Hupeh, and Tsai Ch'eng-hsun, Tuchun of Kiangsi, and himself, opium is now permitted to be sold at Yaochow and Hankow, where Chang Chi-an, Liu Shao-nan and Liu Fu-ching are the appointed special! opium sellers. Another large quantity has just arrived' at Kunchiang under Li Yun-chi and Fu Chueh-min, the appointed special opium sellers.
As opium planting was the chief cause of the famine brought upon Kueichow in the past, so this widespread opium will hurt Hupeh and Kiangsi, ete. These corrupt: authorities who permit opium to be sold openly in their districts, who receive bribes and who raise opium for money to buy arms to fight their own people are all inhuman and national destroyers and disturbers. Men of this kind ought to be put down, Our strength and power are very limited so we ask your sympathy and strong protest, for the sake of maintaining humauity. and righteousness. If these could be secured not only we but our Kueichow people would be greatly favoured.
The letter has been forwarded to Sir F. Aglen, and the Customs Commissioner of Hankow.—Reuter.
Paris, Feb. 2.
The Council of the League of Nations has adopted the report of the Advisory Opium Committee and, has authorized it to hold its meetings in public when it thinks fit.—
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.