6
The following is the resolution ultimately passed to which Dr. Wright refere :→→→
"That the International Opium Commis- sion finds that the use of opium in form
any otherwise than for medical purposes is held by almost every participating country to he a matter for probibition or for careful regula- tion; and that each country in the adminis- tration of its system of regulation purports to he aiming, as opportunity offers, at pro- gressively increasing stringency. In record- ing these conclusions the International Opium Commission recognizes the wide vari- ations between the conditions prevailing in the different countries, but it would urge on the attention of the Governments concerned the desirability of a re-examination of their systems of regulation in the light of the ex- perience of other countries dealing with the same problem."
C
Extract D.
"Resolution 4 was the most difficult to
carry. Proposed by the American delega- tion, it was urged in its favour that it would be impossible for the Philippine Government to fully suppress the practice of opium smoking in the islands because of the large coast line that had to be protected against the clandestine introduction of the drug. Further, in the case of the Philippines, that 3 per cent of the total revenue of the islands had been sacrificed, so that it would tax the insular treasury beyond its capacity to organise and maintain an efficient pre- ventive service. It was urged again that our Government had in the national food and drugs act imposed the same penalties on shippers of misbranded and adulterated drugs or foods abroad as on shippers in our interstate commerce, and, therefore, that the time had arrived for the general recognition of the principle that those countries engaged in the production of opium on a large scale should adopt measures to provent at ports of departure the shipment of opium to any country prohibiting its entry.
It may be seen that in the event of China securing a revision of the opium sections of the Tientsin treaties so that she may prohib- it outright the importation of opium, the principle of suppressing exportations from opium-producing to opium-prohibiting countries would apply to her. This was recognized by several of the delegations, and was perhaps the single reason for the opposi tion to the resolution. However, the appeal of the American delegation broke the opposition and resolution 4 was passed unan- imously." (Page 70),
The following is the resolution as moved by the
American delegation (1.0,0.,
Vol. 1, page 47) *
"That, whereas the reports submitted to the International Opium Commission by the delegations present record that each Govern- ment has striot laws which are aimed directly or indirectly to prevent the smuggling of opium, its alkaloids, derivatives and prepara- tions into their respective territories:
Be it resolved, therefore, that in the judgment of the International Opium Com- mission it is the duty of all countries which continue to produce opium, its alkaloids, derivatives and preparations, to prevent at ports of departure the shipment of opium, and of its alkaloids, derivatives and prepara- tions, to any country which prohibits the entry of opium or of its alkaloids, derivatives and preparations."
The following is the Commission's record of the discussion on the Resolution (Ibid, pages 51-52):
"DR. HAMILTON WRIGHT then moved the adoption of the fourth resolution.
"SIR CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH suggested that the words in the second paragraph of the resolution: "which continue to produce opium, its alkaloids, derivatives and prepara- tions": should be omitted. This would put the pressure not upon one country only but upon all countries.
He also ventured to suggest to the United States delegation that the paragraph in question should read
it is the duty of all countries to adopt reasonable measures to prevent, etc."
"DR. HAMILTON WRIGHT accepted these amendments, and the resolution in its altered form was adopted unanimously by the House.
(Note. The Portuguese delegation asked permission to reserve its vote on each and all of the resolutions)."
585