To this end 1 educate my people by teaching them that opium smoking is a disease which ought to be cured, and induce them to make a strong' determination to cure themselves without the employment of the law. I also instruct the smugglers "that smuggling a bad practice,—and pardon them for the' first offence.
If caught again they are severely punished. "Based on this policy I make a thorough investigation of the numbers of smokers and smug-lers, and hold all my officials Tespensible for reforming them.
During recent years T have established a system of village reform. Each village appoints a "head man" and every 25 families an "overseer," and every five families, a "head neighbour." 'These are responsible for the behaviour and instruction of the people and those obstinate to' them are punished by aw. Since this system was established nine-tenths of the opium evil has been stamped out. T have every reason to believe that total suppression of opium in Shansi is within, reach, and is only delayed by the cultivation and. smuggling from other provinces. I submit this brief report, hoping you will always assist_me by suggesting further methods of improvement, Yours Sincerely, lig, it becomes evident that thers is a need for the establishment military officers who are to reconnoitre the East River front, Ove next run was out through Ningling to Suicheo, a distance of point Mr. Li Cheng as Chief ut the Trade Bureau.
(signed) Yen Ssi-shuan"
—Reuter's Bacifié Service
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.