Opium monopoly

Ellen Newbold La Motte (1873-1961)
- Roles: American nurse, journalist, activist, and author.
- Prominence in treating tuberculosis in the early 20th century.
- Involvement in women's suffrage around 1911, participating in marches and publishing articles.
- Served as a nurse in Belgium during World War I in 1915.
- Retired from nursing with financial assistance from cousin Alfred I. du Pont to focus on writing.
- Settled in Paris with Emily Crane Chadbourne (1871-1964), her life partner and a patron of arts.
- Formed friendships with American writers Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.
- Traveled Asia in 1916, which sparked her activism against the opium trade.
- Published The Opium Monopoly in 1920 and continued to research opium in the 1920s.

Great Britain in 1920
- Leading imperial power with extensive colonies in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.
- Ruled colonies without consideration for indigenous welfare.
- Controlled regions including self-governing territories like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
- The British Empire comprised nearly 25% of the world's landmass.

Initial Awareness
- La Motte's interest sparked during her 1916 Far East visit, revealing the ongoing opium trade in China.
- Recollections of the First Opium War (1839-1842), which was fought over opium trade, were somewhat vague prior to her trip.
- Encounter with a young Hindu on a boat raising awareness about British opium policy in India.

Expressed outrage over British opium policy as a government monopoly in India.
Highlighted the moral and economic degradation caused by opium, emphasizing that without self-governance, India was unable to stop the trade.
Provided facts and figures illustrating the opium trade's detrimental effects on his nation.
La Motte and Chadbourne were initially skeptical but compelled to investigate further.

Research Methodology
- Spent nearly a year in the Far East, visiting various countries and collecting data.
- Sought out British government reports detailing opium statistics and trade.
- Personally visited opium shops and divans, witnessing firsthand the availability and accessibility of opium.

The British government established a systematic opium trade monopoly, benefiting financially from taxes and licensing fees.
In contrast to repressive measures in Europe and America, British colonial governments actively encouraged opium trade in the East.

Description from Drugging a Nation by Samuel Merwin (1908):
- Revenue from opium derived from a monopoly on production in British-controlled Indian provinces.
- The British government exercised control over cultivation, production, and sale of opium.
The opium monopoly consisted of
- Areas designated for poppy cultivation.
- Governmental advances and low-interest loans to cultivators.
- Weekly auction sales of opium generated significant revenue for the government.

Opium Cultivation Statistics:
- Poppy cultivation under British control = 654,928 acres.
- Revenue generated included auction sales, duties, and license fees.
- Total revenue reported to be approximately $22 million.

Effects on China and Global Trade Dynamics
- The British government's role in constructing a market for addiction via opium was evident.
- jA series of treaties after conflicts allowed for legalized opium trade in China, fundamentally altering social and economic structures.

Hong Kong ceded to Great Britain as a significant trade center for opium.
Revenue from the opium trade constituted about one-third of Hong Kong’s revenue by 1917.
Despite market closures in China, options for alternative markets continued to exist.

Timeline of Opium Introduction and Addiction in China:
- Poppy known in China for 12 centuries; medicinal use for 9.
- Opium smoking began in the 17th century.
- Significant foreign importation initially began in the 18th century, spiking during British colonial rule.
China’s attempts to prohibit the trade were hindered significantly by British insurrection and military might.

Consequences of British Campaigns
- First Opium War resulting in opium trade's legalization and the loss of territory.
- Second Opium War further entrenched British power in the region, leading to vast opium trade legalization and extenuated addiction within China.

Decision by China in 1906 to eradicate opium addiction.
Collaboration with Great Britain to decrease opium production and imports—a gradual effort requiring vigilant enforcement.
By 1917, significant reductions in usage and local production were achieved, largely credited to stringent laws and international cooperation.

Extraterritorial concessions remained problematic for China’s sovereignty over opium regulations.
International recognition of the persistent threat posed by foreign-controlled trade must acknowledge the existing illegal markets.

Arguments exist defending the opium trade based on supposed cultural acceptance and perceived benefits.
La Motte challenges these arguments by emphasizing the destructive societal impact among subject populations, particularly in their inability to control their circumstances against opium onslaughts.

Advocacy for opium among pro-imperialist advocates framed as benevolent, addressing moral conflicts regarding addiction in subject states compared to self-governing nations.
La Motte urges deeper reflection on the ethics of exploiting vulnerable populations under the guise of offering 'beneficial' substances.