（原文）
“Missionary Home”，Shanghai， China，Feb.20th， 1912
To the President，Republic of China.
Dear Dr.Sun，
I have been reading today， in the Chinese papers， your excellent manifesto to all the provinces， urging peace， unity， progress and education.I say accent to it all.Could you not also， at this time， send out another one on the opium Question， and direct that the opium cultivation must be stopped， and that this new Republic of China must be speedily freed from this cursed evil? It is a most important question just now.Little help can come from Hague or from other nations.China must exert herself and stop this awful traffic.Reports are coming that opium is being planted again in Yunnan， Szechwan， Anhui， Fukien and other places.China is standing before the world in this great reform and she cannot go backward.We look to you for help now in this great question.
I send you a copy of an article I have just written.How can I best aid in this important work? I want to see China free from this great evil， to take her right place in the world as an independent Republic.
Yours very sincerely，
Edward W.Thwing
The Republic of China and the Opium Question.
By E.W.THWING， secretary for China of the International Reform Bureau.
The people of China， in almost one step， have changed from an Imperial Government to a modern Republic.The desire for liberty and freedom has led them to throw off the old corrupt system， that has kept China weak and backward， and to come out boldly before the world with a new government that shall stand for reform and progress.From statements of the President， Vice-President and numbers of the National Senate at Nanking， it is evident that the opium reform could be one of the first to be taken up and dealt with in an earnest and fearless manner.We learn also that the Republic is not looking to high license and revenue， but to real prohibition of this trade， and habit， that has brought so much evil and poverty to a great nation.The new China of the Republic wishes to thouroughly stamp out this vice and trade， at the earliest possible moment， as one of the first requisites towards gaining independence and freedom and her rightful place among the great world powers of the 20th century.
Opium and the Revolution.
The spirit of the awakened， progress， men of China， during the past few years， has been most wonderfully earnest against the opium evil.It has developed a national movement of the people， which has urged on the government against the cultivation and use of drug.The revolutionary army has been practically free from the habit.They never would have attained what has been done otherwise.But as the Chinese people accomplished much themselves， so they were earnestly desirous to be free from the foreign yoke of the opium trade， that was taking away so much of their wealth.The National Assembly， in Peking， voted a memorial to the throne asking for prohibition of opium， but it was not granted.The weak government consented， under strong protest it is true， to a new opium agreement， the trade was to be continued， the government was to received additional revenue from the foreign poison， and over one thousand three hundred and thirty tons of extra bonded opium was unloaded on the country， by the foreign traders， at a time that the people were struggling for freedom from a blighting cause.Little wonder that many of the leaders of China's great reform， should turn from such a government which， when it had a chance to be free from an unrighteous treaty， would not stand up for its rights， and protect the lives of its people from the black poison at its doors.The December number of The World's Work has put this as one of the great reasons for the outbreak in China.It said：“Another item in the revolution's indictment of Peking's Government is its failure immediately to terminate the opium trade.Anyone who has read the story of the Opium War， one of the most disgraceful chapters in the history of England， knows that the Chinese government struggled manfully against the introduction of opium into China by the East Indian Company until borne down by the British armies; and every one who knows anything about modern China is aware that the moral sense of the nation has battled heroically against the ‘white dragon of the treaty ports'.The article in question goes on to speak of the arrangement with the British Government， that six years must elapse before the last case of Indian opium can be shut out of China， and says that this program is “an satisfactory to the revolutions， and that one of their demands is the immediate total extirpation of the traffic.The mind and conscience of the whole nation is definitely resolved upon it that the land shall be delivered from the opium curse”.In some of the revolutionary armies opium smoking is a crime punishable with death.The revolution has been successful， and China now become a Republic， shall we expect the new government to take a weak stand， like the old one， and tolerate this vicious traffic for years to come?
The Republic and Prohibition
The old government followed a policy of revenue， regulation， license， and a continuation of the trade， with the attempt to stop cultivation.The nation was promised freedom from the foreign opium， province by province.The plan has been found difficult and unsatisfactory， while the trade and sale at high prices continues， it is most difficult to stop the cultivation.While the government receives revenue from this poison it is hard to keep the people from planting it.Real prohibition is the only way to free China from this great evil and the new Republic have declared that they mean prohibition.How can the Chinese government permit the wholesale trade in foreign opium， bringing millions of dollars of the drug into the country， and at the same time put down the cultivation and stop the habit?
The following letters， sent last year， after the new agreement， show something of such a condition that can only bring discouragement and failure to China as great reform.
I talked with this viceroy soon after these letters， were sent and， although he was really desirous of saving his province from opium， he was mortally afraid of the British power， and if the indemnities this people would have to pay， if he did anything to stop the ruinous traffic.And he rightfully felt that without stopping the trade， and public sale of opium， it was almost impossible to put down all cultivation.The province was almost free， but the continued forcing of the foreign opium， at the port of Fuchow， has discouraged the reform， and the latest reports indicate that， this province， that has done so much， is now being pushed backwards.Total prohibition to the trade and cultivation alike is the only way to save China.
The Hague Conference
This so called Opium Conference， although no doubt doing much good， in showing the dangerous use of drugs throughout the world， has given little help to China in her desire to be free from opium.In fact， the British would not allow the great Indian opium question to be even considered.Vested interests were too strong， and the opium traders still want many millions of dollars more of China's money before they give up this iron grasp on the life or the nation.(More than eighty million dollars worth of British opium was sold in China during 1912! A large part of that amount was revenue to the Indian Government， which has received， in less than half of the ten year period for gradual reduction， more revenue than it expected to obtain during the whole time.) China， that is the Manchu Government at that conference， was not a free sovereign nation.If she had been， the British resolution， “that every Government should frame effective laws to control the production and sale of raw opium”， would have been of some benefit.But the ruling of the conference (to safeguard the Indian opium trade) is to the effect “that these regulations should only apply to the countries where the introduction of opium is prohibited”.As China was not free to prohibit the introduction of the black poison into her own land， she could not have the help which sovereign independent nations might receive from the Opium Conference， and why does not China free? Because the Manchu Government at Peking， last year， because of fear and weakness， would not avail itself of the opportunity， then at hand， to denounce a treaty (treaty of Tientsin)， that had bound it in awful fetters for fifty years.
It is no wonder that the Hague Conference did not give more general satisfaction to those who had hoped for better things.It is but just to say， however， in honor of the British people， that thousands of them have protested， continually， and earnestly， against the attitude of their government.They have insisted that China should be set free.It was only the weakness of the Peking Government that made these efforts for justice of no avail.If China， had come out boldly and publicly (as she did do in private) and had asked that the opium trade stop， and that she be given the right of a sovereign nation， to protect the health， life and happiness of her people， she would have succeeded.Not all the vested interests together could have made the Government conquer force opium into China.They could not hide behind， claim that “China is quite satisfied”， that “China does not care， and does not wish to hasten the prohibition of opium”， that “China has not asked to be free”.If China had asked， before the world， her own people would have been with her， and the people of great Britain would have come to her support.
What if the future?
China must free herself， she cannot depend on the Hague， or upon other governments.They seek to protect， as far as possible， the vested interests of their own people.China must take a stand for her rights， and first for this great moral right， of every independent nation， to protect the lives of their people from danger.She must also make a sacrifice and give up the revenue from this poison.There is no gain in letting the evil trade go on years longer bringing death and ruin to the new nation.The Republic of China， is not like the weak Manchu government.It is a new force， and it means to crush out this opium traffic with all its power.It has declared that it will keep treaty obligations.But there is one redeeming clause in the Opium Treaty of last May， and that is that it can be changed.The New Republic of China can say to Great British， and to the world， that she wants that agreement changed; that the trade and cultivation of opium in the Republic of China must stop， that she will receive no more revenue from this poison， that brings so much ruin to the people.China can and will be free.The new flag of liberty and freedom is not to be soiled by a continuation of the opium traffic.China needs her money， now for education and progress.China does not wish the name before the world as an opium smoking Republic， but has declared that with all her force and power， she will put down and prohibit this evil trade and habit.Her people must be free.
(译文)
“传教士之家”，中国上海，1912年2月20日
致中华民国总统。
尊敬的孙博士：
我今天在中文报纸上读到您向各省发表的精彩宣言，敦促和平、团结、进步和教育。但愿如此。您现在能否再发一个关于鸦片的宣言，号召停止鸦片种植，使新生的中华民国迅速摆脱这一可恶的祸害？这是当前最重要的问题，海牙或他国的帮助收效甚微。中国必须努力阻止这种可怕的交易。有报道称，云南、四川、安徽、福建等地又开始种植鸦片了。在这场伟大的变革中，中国站在世界面前，不能倒退。在这个重大问题上，我们现在需要您的帮助。
我寄给您一篇我刚写好的文章。我怎样才能在禁烟这项重要工作中给予帮助？我想看到中国摆脱鸦片的祸害，作为一个独立的共和国在世界上拥有其应得的地位。
丁义华 谨上
中华民国与鸦片问题
万国改良会中国部会长丁义华撰
中国人民几乎一步实现了从帝制政府到现代形式的共和政治的跨越。对自由和解放的渴望使他们抛弃了让中国软弱落后的旧的腐败制度，勇敢地立于世界面前，他们的新政府拥护改革与进步，从总统、副总统以及参议会议员的声明中，可以明显看出鸦片改革首次被认真对待和勇敢处置。我们还了解到，共和国并不寻求获得特许和高税收，而是真正禁止鸦片贸易和吸烟陋习，它给这一伟大民族带来无数罪孽和贫困。新中华民国希望尽早根除这一恶习和贸易，以此作为获得独立和自由以及在20世纪世界强国中的正当地位的先决条件之一。
鸦片与革命
过去数年里，觉醒、进步的中国人民，对抵制鸦片的罪恶表现出极高热忱。这已发展成为一场全国性的民众运动，推动政府禁止鸦片种植与使用。革命军队已基本摆脱了这种陋习，否则他们永远无法取得现有的成绩。但正因为中国人民依靠自身力量取得如此成就，他们迫切希望摆脱外国鸦片贸易的枷锁，因鸦片贸易夺走了他们的大量财富。在北京，资政院投票通过了一项要求禁止鸦片的备忘录，但没被朝廷批准。软弱的清政府在强烈抗议下通过了一项新的鸦片协定，交易仍将继续，外商向中国倾销了超过1330吨的额外保税鸦片，这些鸦片需额外征税，当时民众正在为争取摆脱这一祸害而努力抗争。难怪中国许多伟大的改革领袖，要脱离这一政府，它本有机会摆脱一个不公正条约，却不能维护自身权益，不能保护民众生命不受家门口鸦片之毒害。12月号的《世界导报》曾将鸦片作为中国爆发起义的重要原因之一，报道指出：“革命者对北京政府的另一项指控是未能立即终止鸦片贸易。鸦片战争是英国史上最不光彩的篇章之一，任何读过鸦片战争故事的人都知道中国政府一直在英勇地反对东印度公司向中国输入鸦片，直到被英军镇压；每一个了解现代中国的人都知道，道德意识觉醒的民族一直在勇敢地与‘通商口岸的白龙’作斗争。”文章接下来谈的问题是清政府与英国政府达成协议，印度鸦片还可在中国行销6年，并称该项计划为“革命的一个令人满意的计划，他们的要求之一是立即彻底根除鸦片贸易。整个民族的仁人志士下定决心要把中华大地从鸦片的祸端中拯救出来”。在一些革命军队中，吸食鸦片是一种杀头的罪行，革命成功了，而今中国变成了一个共和国，难道新政府还要像旧政府一样采取软弱立场，在未来的几年里容忍这种恶性交易吗？
共和国与禁烟
旧政府一方面允许继续鸦片贸易，以增加税收；一方面通过发放许可证进行管制，试图停止鸦片种植。政府承诺全国各省逐步摆脱外国鸦片，这一计划被认为是困难和不令人满意的，高价格的贸易和销售仍在继续，停止种植是最困难的。虽然政府从鸦片中获得税收，但很难阻止人民种植它。真正禁烟是使中国摆脱这一罪恶的唯一途径，新共和国已经宣布禁烟。中国政府怎么可以允许大规模的鸦片贸易，把上百万美元的鸦片带入中国，同时又禁止鸦片种植和吸食？
本文随附的几封信是去年在新协议签署后发出的，信中内容显示当前的形势只能给中国的伟大改革带来沮丧与失败。
在这些信件发出后不久，我就和本省都督谈过，他虽然真的很想在本省禁烟，但他又害怕英国强权，如果他采取任何措施阻止鸦片交易，担心民众必须支付赔偿金。他当然知道，如果不停止贸易和公开销售鸦片，几乎不可能停止所有的鸦片种植。本来该省几乎快成功摆脱鸦片的祸害，但外国鸦片强制在福州港的持续倾销，阻碍了改革。最新的报告表明，该省已做了很多事，而今正在倒退。全面禁止贸易和种植鸦片是拯救中国的唯一途径。
海牙会议
这次所谓的鸦片大会，虽然在向全世界宣示使用毒品的危险性方面无疑是有益处的，但并未给中国摆脱鸦片心愿带来多大帮助。事实上，英国甚至不允许考虑印度鸦片问题。既得利益过于强大，鸦片贩子还想从中国多赚千百万美金才肯放手（1912年，英国在中国销售了价值8000多万美元的鸦片！其中很大一部分成了印度政府的收入。印度政府在不到5年的时间内，已经获得了超过它自己预期10年财政收入的总和，虽然逐年递减）。中国，即那次会议上的清政府，并非一个拥有独立主权的国家。如果它是的话，英国提议“每一个政府都应该制定有效的法律来控制鸦片的生产和销售”本来是有好处的，但是这次会议（为了保护印度的鸦片贸易）的裁决是“这些规定只适用于那些禁止引进鸦片的国家”。中国不能在自己的领土上自由禁烟，她不能从鸦片会议上得到独立主权国家可能得到的帮助。为什么中国不能自由禁烟？因为北京的清政府由于恐惧和软弱，去年没有利用当时的机会谴责《天津条约》。50年来，《天津条约》给中国套上了沉重的脚镣。
难怪海牙会议并没有给那些希望得到更好结果的人更多的普遍满意。但还是要向英国人民致敬，成千上万的英国人不断认真地抗议英国政府的态度。他们坚持要解放中国。可惜北京政府太过软弱，致使这些为伸张正义而做的努力无济于事。如果中国像她私下做的那样大胆公开地要求停止鸦片贸易，并要求给予她一个主权国家的权利保护其人民健康、生活和幸福，她本可以成功的。这样所有的既得利益集团就不能再把鸦片强行运入中国。他们不能躲在后面，声称“中国很满意”，“中国不在乎，也不想加速禁烟”，“中国没要求自由”。如果中国在世界面前提出要求，其人民会和她站在一起，英国人民也会支持。
未来怎么办？
中国必须自救，不能依赖海牙，也不能依靠他国政府，要尽可能维护本国民众的既得利益。中国必须维护自身权利，首先维护每一个独立国家享有的伟大的道德权利，保障其人民生命免于危险。她还必须做出牺牲，放弃从鸦片中获取的收入。如果让鸦片贸易持续下去，除了给新国家带来死亡和损害，毫无益处。中华民国不像软弱的清政府，它是一种新力量，意味着用一切力量消灭鸦片贸易。虽然中华民国已经宣布将履行条约义务，但是去年5月签订的鸦片协议中有一个补救条款，那就是条约可以修正。新生的中华民国可以对大不列颠和全世界说，她希望改变这一协议；中华民国的鸦片贸易和种植必须停止，她将不再从这种给人民带来太多祸害的毒品中获得收入。中国能够而且必将获得自由。独立自由的新旗帜不会被鸦片贸易的继续所玷污。而今中国需要把大量资金花在教育和进步上。中国不希望在世人面前是一个吸鸦片的共和国形象，中国已经宣布将全力以赴扑灭、禁止这种邪恶的贸易和习惯，中国人民必将获得自由。