VELKÁ BRITÁNIE A OBCHOD S OPIEM V ČCHINGSKÉ ČÍNĔ NA POČÁTKU 20. STOLETÍ.

Th e opium trade has played a crucial role in a relation of Great Britain and China since the beginning of the 19th century. Th e eff ort of the Qing government to stop this practice led to two confl icts in the course of the 19th century; Great Britain forced to sign unequal agreements during them. Opening Chinese ports for British trade led to the dramatic growth of trade with this addictive drug. However, the opium trade exhausted the country economically and at the same time, it led to the domestic production increase and growing number of opium smokers. Th us, the import of opium into China contributed to the deep moral decline of the society. Th is practice was criticized by many European politics and representatives of public life, who welcomed the edict of Emperor Guangxu from the year 1906 restricting the use of opium. Th is step of Beijing was followed by the British initiative and the attempt to limit the import of opium into the Middle Kingdom. Th ank to this act, the consummation of opium in China was managed to be decreased during few years. Th e decline in domestic production led to the import decline, which was promised by the British in 1907. Th e height was the year 1913, when Indian opium import into China was defi nitely stopped. However, the Chinese revolution and the subsequent chaotic period turned the auspicious tide in following years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]