Indian speeches (1907-1909) | Page 3

to bear the
expense. I commend that observation cheerfully to the Chancellor of
the Exchequer. This question touches the consciences of the people of
the country. My hon. friend sometimes goes a little far; still, he
represents a considerable body of feeling. Last May, when the opium
question was raised in this House, something fell from me which
reached the Chinese Government, and the Chinese Government, on the
strength of that utterance of mine, made in the name of His Majesty's
Government, have persistently done their best to come to some sort of
arrangement and understanding with His Majesty's Government. In
September an Imperial decree was issued in China ordering the strict

prohibition of the consumption and cultivation of opium, with a view to
ultimate eradication in ten years. Communications were made to the
Foreign Secretary, and since then there has been a considerable
correspondence, some of which the House is, by Question and Answer,
acquainted with. The Chinese Government have been uniformly
assured, not only by my words spoken in May, but by the Foreign
Secretary, that the sympathy of this country was with the objects set
forth in their decree of September. Then a very important incident, as I
regard it, and one likely by-and-bye to prove distinctly fruitful, was the
application by the United States Government to our Government, as to
whether there should not be a joint inquiry into the opium traffic by the
United States and the other Powers concerned. The House knows, by
Question and Answer, that His Majesty's Government judge that
procedure by way of Commission rather than by way of Conference is
the right way to approach the question. But no one can doubt for a
moment, considering the honourable interest the United States have
shown on previous occasions, that some good result will come with
time and persistence.
I will not detain the House with the details, but certainly it is a true
satisfaction to know that a great deal of talk as to the Chinese interest in
the suppression of opium being fictitious is unreal. I was much struck
by a sentence written by the correspondent of The Times at Peking
recently. Everybody who knows him, is aware that he is not a
sentimentalist, and he used remarkable language. He said that he
viewed the development in China of the anti-opium movement as
encouraging; that the movement was certainly popular, and was
supported by the entire native Press; while a hopeful sign was that the
use of opium was fast becoming unfashionable, and would become
more so. A correspondence, so far as the Government of India is
concerned, is now in progress. Those of my hon. friends who think we
are lacking perhaps in energy and zeal I would refer to the language
used by Mr. Baker, the very able finance member of the Viceroy's
Council, because these words really define the position of the
Government of India--
"What the eventual outcome will be, it is impossible to foresee. The
practical difficulties which China has imposed on herself are enormous,
and may prove insuperable, but it is evident that the gradual reduction

and eventual extinction of the revenue that India has derived from the
trade, has been brought a stage nearer, and it is necessary for us to be
prepared for whatever may happen."
He added that twenty years ago, or even less, the prospect of losing a
revenue of five and a half crores of rupees a year would have caused
great anxiety, and even now the loss to Indian finances would be
serious, and might necessitate recourse to increased taxation. But if, as
they had a clear right to expect, the transition was effected with due
regard to finance, and was spread over a term of years, the consequence
need not be regarded with apprehension.
When I approach military expenditure, and war and the dangers of war,
I think I ought to say a word about the visit of the Ameer of
Afghanistan, which excited so much attention, and kindled so lively an
interest in great parts, not only of our own dominions, but in Asia. I am
persuaded that we have reason to look back on that visit with entire and
complete satisfaction. His Majesty's Government, previously to the
visit of the Ameer instructed the Governor-General in Council on no
account to open any political questions with the Ameer. That was really
part of the conditions of the Ameer's visit; and the result of that policy
has been to place our relations with the Ameer on an eminently
satisfactory footing, a far better footing than would have been arrived at
by any formal premeditated convention. The Ameer himself made a
speech when he arrived at Kabul on his return, and I am aware that in
this speech I come