OPIUM TRAFFIC.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18302, 9 February 1925, Page 9

OPIUM TRAFFIC.

GENEVA CONFERENCE.

AMERICA WITHDRAWS. (bt CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPHiIGHT.) (ACSTSALIAN and n.z. cable association.) (Received February Sth, 5.5 p.m.) GENEVA, February 7. In view of developments already known, t-lie American delegation has withdrawn from the Opium .Conference. The withdrawal is a sequel to tho difference in vicwst between the British and American delegations. Tho Americans proposed a scheme by which they contended the traffic would be ended in ten years, while tho British delegation pointed out that the American plan would not prevent the smuggling of opium, that the crux of tho whole matter was China's failure to prevent an increase in opium growing, and the proposed traffic should be ended within a period of fifteen years dating from the time China should begin effectively to carry out tiie Hague Opium Convention. Attempts to reconcile the British and American viewpoints were unsuccessful. *

Tho absence of the Chinese delegation from the Plenary Scission of the second Opium Conference is interpreted as meaning that the delegation has> withdrawn from the conference.

The president of the conference read a letter from the Chinese delegation announcing their withdrawal on. tho ground that as no undertaking had been given to suppress opium smoking in far Eastern territories, tho delegation considered no good purpose could bo served by its further participation in the conference.