As stated in the introduction to the leading article this subject, the opinions those who agree with its writer are entitled to be heard: we are, ut course, for the moment considering Jonly those who honestly believe that an opium monopoly would be harmful. But we cannot in any sense endorse their view. The writer of Jauthorities having decided to withdraw without waiting for the Russo-'Chinese conference 's merely what vulgarly called "eye wash." The most important part of Comrade Karakhan's Note is the advice [China "to come to a peacefial understanding with the Mongolian people" on the basis of justice and national Jaspirations." China's conception of Mongolia remains what it has ever: been, that Mongolia isa dependency This notion was resented years before the coming of Bolshevism, it certainly will not be less resisted by the Young Red Mongols who "bons" the country now, and Karaklhan's Note is a clear indication that they have the Soviet on their side. In a word, the withdrawal of the Red troops is merely for the convenience of Moscow, which it has tried to obscure by" ya nding phrases, the duplicity of which, however, is easily to Jdetected by anyone acquainted with the normal methods of Bolshevism, the leading article says that the Tupan and Huipan of Shanghai, in proposing an opium monopoly, would "imitate the worst actions of the Military Governors who raise money. for their armies from the degradation of the people." We hold no brief for Mr. Sun Pao-chi and Mr.
Vu Ya-ching: but their proposal certainly does not, on the face of it, necessarily bear this construction. Military Governors compel farmers. to grow opium for the revenue derivable or, at the least, encourage the opium traffic for the same pur-ose. An opium monopoly, when properly managed, keeps the trade' within limits and aims at its ultimate suppression. Sir Francis Aglen proposed the institution of a monopoly, precisely because it is the only way of coping with the generals aforesaid and the smugglers. What is the situation Shanghai? Vast quantities of opium are smuggled in, with the direct encouragement of the Chinese army, navy and police; the police have Perpetually to be taken off other work to-hunt for opium; the temptations to corruption generally are enormous; and armed robbery (of which opium is the commonest object) increases. The situation could hardly be worse. An opium mon-opely by arranging for a regular import of opium and regularizing prices would take away the chief
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.