THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC

Evening Star, Issue 14413, 8 July 1910, Page 7

THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC

The main articles of the diplomatic convcnlion drawn, up by tho International Conference for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic have been published. Article 1 is as follows Punishment should be inflicted upon anyone who, in order to satisfy the passions of another person, has engaged, incited, or led astray, oven with her consent, a woman or a girl who is a minor for immoral purposes, even when the various acts which form the essential elements of the offence have been committed in different countries. Clause 2 runs :—Punishment should likewise bo inflicted upon anyone who, in order to minister to the passions of another, has by fraud or by violence, threats, abuse of authority, or any other 'means of constraint engaged, incited, or led astray a woman or a girl who is of age for immoral purposes, even when the various acts which form the essential elements of the offence have been committed in different countries.

By clausa 3 the signatory Powers whose legislation is at present inadequate for tho suppression of tho offences defined in tho two preceding articles undertake to propose to their respective Legislatures such 'measures ;is will secure the adequate punishment of these offences. The fact of the detention of a woman or girl against her will in a brothel is not touched by the convention, since it was generally acknowledged by the negotiators to bo a matter which exclusively concerned tho special legislations of the several States.

—Obscene Publications.—

As regards obscene publications it was agreed that punishment should be inflicted •upon all persons who manufacture or keep in stock or offer for sale or distribution obscene literature, drawings, images, or ‘objects of any kind, ns well as upon persons who import or transport such obscene literature, drawings, or objects, or who advertise the sale of them. Such individuals will be amenable to the jurisdiction of the Courts of the States in which the offence is committed, ms well as to the •Courts of tho States of which they are 'the subjects, even if their offence has been committed outside of those States.