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reaffirms its conviction that the India-Chinese opium-trade is 'morally indefensible' and requests his Majesty's Government to take such steps as may be necessary to bring it speedily to a close."
Instead, however, of at once enacting this deliverance from the evil, China, on suggestion of Sir Edward Grey, was forced into a contract by which, dating from Jan. 1st. 1908 a gradual reduction of the opium-import was to take place until 1917 when it should cease altogether, provided "China furnished, during the first 3 years, the proof that its population was really decided to give up the use of Opium." This proof China rendered, though in 1908 the import still amounted to 61,000 chests, in 1905 to 56,800, and in 1910 to 51,700 cases, or for the 3 years 22,600,000 lbs. He who is interested in the recent history of the Opium-trade may find information in an article in the "Forum" by R. P. Chiles and entitled: "The passing of the Opium trade." There he will also find the contemptible clauses which are to make it possible for the English Government to draw, in all future the revenues it desires from the Opium-trade. The shopkeeper's spirit, which owns the English Government as much as it does the nation, leads to the apprehension that, after 1917 the opium-trade will find its continuation as well in Eastern Asia as over the rest of the world, if not in legitimate roads then in illegitimate ones, which to take the shopkeepers of England have never hesitated in the past nor will in the future.
England, the Suppressor of the Free Boers.
English cupidity also robbed those Dutch settlers of house and home, who in 1652 had colonized around the tableland of South Africa and who led a peaceful existence in the pursuit of agriculture and cattle raising. This pastoral life came to an end when in 1795 and 1815 England took possession of Capeland. From now on overburdened with heavy taxes and constantly oppressed, the Boers decided to quit their old homesteads and find new ones north of the Orange River, where they would not be molested by English tyranny. Trekking into the interior of the continent, they established the States Natal, Oranje, Transvaal and the South African Republic. But their oppressors followed them and stuck close to their heels wherever they might transfer their habitation. Unfortunately for the Boers diamonds and gold were found in their new homesteads. This caused an influx of adventurers of every description, and almost immediately England began to intrigue to obtain possession.
