DRUG TRAFFIC IN EAST

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 186, 4 May 1937, Page 11

DRUG TRAFFIC IN EAST

Dr. Koo Blames Japanese and Koreans CHRISTIAN WORK IN CHINA “Japanese and Korean citizens in Shanghai are those mainly responsible for the drug traffic which is being carried on with a view to undermining the Chinese as a nation,” said Dr. T. Z. Koo, the eminent Chinese leader, who arrived at Wellington from Australia by the Awatea yesterday. Dr. Koo has just spent six weeks in Australia, and he intends to stay about four weeks in New Zealand. “There is no indication, in fact, that the drug distributors are under protection from the Japanese Government, but the Japanese are the largest foreign element in Shanghai and among them are usually found the agents for the traffic. The drugs used are heroin and cocaine, and their influence is marked both by an increase in crime generally and in the deterioration of the physique of the addicts.” As most of the victims are of the poorer classes, they have to resort to stealing' to obtain enough money to buy the drug, but there is one unfortunate aspect of the situation to which Dr. Koo referred. There is less drugtaking among the younger people, as it is viewed with disapproval among them and is considered unpatriotic. “Conditions at present in Shanghai are more or less quiet, as negotiations between China and Japan have reached a stalemate and Chinese proposals have taken on a more positive aspect. China is awaiting the Japanese answer to her proposals, which ask for a definition of Japan’s policy toward China and an assurance, or otherwise, of her friendly and co-operative attitude in forthcoming negotiations. Dr. Koo is visiting New Zealand under the aegis of the "World Student Christian Federation, to which he is travelling secretary. For many years he was secretary of the Y.M.C.A. in China, and he still devotes part of his time to the world committee of the Y.M.C.A. in Geneva. He was a member of the Opium Convention held at Geneva under the auspices of the League of Nations, but he said that the work done by this convention had not resulted in any marked success, as it was concerned mainly with the control of the drug and not the prevention of its distribution. When asked»what measures the Chinese Government is taking to combat the drug traffic he explained that, though the action taken was drastic and imposed the death penalty on offenders who had been convicted three times, it was trying to remedy the evil from the wrong end, the receiving end, and that its efforts were not meeting with the success which would result had it an opportunity of striking at the distributing agents. The village of Kaiangwan, Dr. Koo’s birthplace, has been shelled out of existence by the Japanese since his last visit to New Zealand, which was in 1931, but his other experiences of areas under Japanese occupation have been limited to occasional visits some years ago. The Japanese occupation of Manchuria has affected the working of the Christian missionaries, he said, in that many leaders of the Chinese have had their activities curtailed by the Japanese.. “That these victims were mainly Christians indicates that the Christian teaching promotes individuality and a capacity for leadership, both of these characteristics among the Chinese population being contrary to Japanese interests,” he said. “Christian work as a whole, had made pleasing progress in the East since 1929, as in recent years there has not been any appreciable oppression and persecution of Christian workers.” Dr. Koo will return to Wellington on May 13. While in the city he will address public gatherings, including two public meetings, a business men’s reception, a ministers’ reception, a youth rally, a students’ retreat, and other gatherings. He will preach at St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral on Sunday, May IG, and also will meet the Chinese community in Wellington and students of the university and training colleges.