aspect_,
but in these days of higher ideals, it may be presumed
that Sir John Jordan and the British Government, which he
represents, are more concerned with the moral aspect. _His
protest is not made in the interests of Indian opium_, but
in the hope that the national regeneration from a former
vice should not suffer a relapse.

The reply of the Chinese Government is not known, but it
is safe to infer that assurance would be given that orders
would be issued to the provincial authorities to enforce
the law prohibiting the cultivation of the poppy. Whether
these orders will be obeyed is not so certain.

Gone are the days when edicts from Peking concluded with
the warning, "tremble and obey." Then they were heeded,
but now the authority of the Government does not seem to
extend beyond the metropolitan area, and however ready the
administration may be to suppress poppy cultivation, it is
unable to control the more distant feudal tachuns. How
then, can a Government be held responsible when it is not
in a position to enforce its authority? This problem meets
the treaty powers at every turn. One or several must act
as did Alexander the Great when he cut the Gordian knot.
Who or which shall it be?

From an article in the "North China Herald," dated September 14, 1918:

The Government [Chinese] after concluding the opium deal,
farmed the right to sell the drug in Chekiang, Hupeh
and Kiangsu, to a specially formed company, called
the Hsichi Company.

We read further in the article that the Hsichi Company bought opium from
the Chinese Government at the rate of 10,000 taels per chest, which it
sells to district farmers at 23,000 taels per chest, and these latter
retail it to drug-stores or consumers at 27,000 taels per chest.

From Millard's "Review of the Far East," October 12, 1918:

It would be advisable for the Peking government to
seriously consider the notes addressed to it on the
subject of opium by the British and American governments.
The trade in opium cannot any more be successfully revived
in China than could the African slave trade, and if Peking
proposes to make a few dollars by the sale of the
over-plus opium stock at Shanghai the venture is
dangerous. Only a few years ago China gave her pledge, in
the presence of the assembled nations at The Hague, that
the po