Shanghai, has received a despatch from the Governor of Kiangsu, informing him that he has received a telegram from Mr. E. Thwing, Chairman of the International Opium Suppression Society at Peking, to the following effect Shanghai reports that the majority of foreigners, feeling it a scan-dolous affair that there should be as many as 666 opium hange in the Settlement of Shanghai while the Chinese are so energetically strive ing to eradicate the opium evil, have decided to make a united effort towards the restriction of the opium trade. The opium merchants defend themselves by pointing out that in the interior of China illicit smoking and selling may be found everywhere. On March 1, the Ratepayers will meet to decide the policy and business of the year when the philanthropista will propose the suppression of opium, and the opium merchants will certainly do their best to fight against this proposal. Your province is asked to send to Peking a report of the results of your work in the extirpation of opium, which may be used as an effective weapon against the opitim merchants, ete.
The Governor adds that the cultivation of the poppy may be totally suppressed very soon, as puties have been sent to all districts to work towards that end.
He agrees that unless illicit sale and smoking in the interior disappear also not only will foreign opium find ready markets as of old, but opium merchants will use this an excuse for the continuation of their trade. Apart from answering the telegram sent by Mr. Thwing, the Governor expects the Prefect of every district to do his utmost to eradicate the opium habit in his jurisdiction, and to send all culprits to the Court of Justice to be punished as severely as the law permits, in order to show that China is worthy of the support given her by the friendly Powers.
Feb. 24.
Notice to Repentant Rebels, On February 21, Admiral Tseng Jwcheng, Military Governor of Shanghai, issued a proclamation which reads as follows:—
In pursuance of the Presidential Order granting an amnesty to all repentant rebels, I, the Governor, have framed rules in connexion with the carrying out of the Order and submitted them by telegraph to the Generalissimo's Office for the consideration of the President. These rules were duly approved and their 621 full text published for the information of the public.
Now, the Central Government has informed me that two additional rules have been framed regarding this matter, viz:—(1) The petition and bond submitted by any person surrendering himself must be accompanied by two copies of his 44 inch bust photograph without. being mounted on cardboard, one copy to be kept for record and the other to be stuck to the back of the Amnesty Certificate," the Sesuing oficial of which aboli stamp his the back of the certificate, s0 as to tly on the photograph and part]
prevent any change of the photograph being possible.
(2) "Amnesty Certificate" must always be borne on the person ready for inspection. Any person who lends his certificate to another person or who keeps or uses the certificate of another person, will be severely dealt with.
Ihave, therefore, to issue this notice, calling upon all persons concerned to act in accordance with these rules,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.