Outline of England's unreasonable economic treaties on China
Lord Derby believes opium is the biggest impetus behind the tension and the relation will not get better without addressing the issue of opium.“We (the English) must do our best to bring it (relation between China and England) to good account, and make it the means of putting our relations on a better footing in future." (Fry, 6)
After the Opium War, the Chinese Government has long believed Opium to be the bane of their people. Unrestricted flow of Opium into the Oriental nation has corrupted the minds of it's people. Fry also believes in the prohibition of sales and distribution of Opium in China. Regardless of the excuses England gives on the issue of Opium, the reality is that England has forced economic trade and sales of opium on China,
Fry believes his negative portrayal of England's external affairs would spark controversy. However, Opium is the principal impetus to the international tension.
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Fry argues that if the Chinese Government were at liberty, they would consider Opium to be a poison and never authorize the usage of Opium. However, Indian Government and British diplomacy believe that even without British treaty on the import of Opium into China, the oriental nation would continue the usage of the potent drug. The British/ Indian mindset is that "China shall not hold it (Opium) a poison." Fry sees the statement to be ridiculous and gives three reasons to why Chinese government would never distribute opium to their people. First, English people have determined and regulate Opium as poison. Second, in treaties between England and Japan, it's been agreed that Opium will be prohibited as an article of commerce. Third, the British Indian Government has discouraged the consumption of opium in India.
