OPIUM TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 287, 4 September 1928, Page 11

OPIUM TRAFFIC

QUESTION OF CONTROL DISCUSSED BY LEAGUE COUNCIL BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, September 1. The Council of the League of Nations yesterday considered the question of the control of the opium traffic. Mr. Mackenzie King, the Canadian representative, presented a report on the subject, and moved that tlie British Government’s proposal for instituting a Commission of Inquiry into the situation should be sent forward to the Assembly, this reference being necessary as the funds for such an inquiry can be voted only by the Assembly. Lord Cushendun, British representative, explaining the proposal, said that under The Hague Convention of 1912, the British and other Governments were pledged to a gradual suppression of the trade in and the use of prepared opium. Efforts had been made to carry out that undertaking, but owing to the conditions in the Far East great difficulties were experienced, especially at Hong-Kong, where it was found impossible to prevent illicit traffic. Those who had followed events intimately would have seen how difficult it was to prevent illicit traffic in alcohol, and would understand how much more difficult it was for Hong-Kong to prevent illicit traffic in opium. In these circumstances, continued Lord Cushendun, the British Government had thought it desirable that the League should appoint a commission to examine conditions independently and impartially, and no doubt they would advise as to how the difficulties might be overcome. He hoped that it would be taken as proof of the confidence which the British Government reposed in the League of Nations that it should be willing to hand over a matter touching such vast commercial and material interests to impartial examination. He also hoped that it would be taken as proof of the British Government’s desire to stop the traffic. M. Boncour (France), and the Dutch representative, supporting the proposal, declared that their respective Governments would facilitate the inquiry in their far-distant dependencies. It* was decided to refer the proposal to the League Assembly. Geneva Opium Convention.

As the Geneva Opium Convention, which has been ratified by the requisite number of Powers, comes into force on September 25, the League Council considered the appointment of a Permanent Central Board set up tinder Article 19 of the Convention. The Convention provides that the United States must be asked to nominate a member, and the Council decided to invite the Government of the United States to do so.