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The following is a speech made by the Chinese delegation with reference to a British resolution calling attention to the unsatisfactory character of the Chinese statistics ("International Opium Commission," vol. i, p. 59):---
"The Chinese delegation beg to thank his Excellency the Chief Commissioner for Japan for the kind words he has just spoken with reference to the difficulties they had to contend against in preparing their report. With reference to the resolution before us, we consider it is couched in most reasonable and just terms, and we appreciate the fair manner in which the British delegation criticises our shortcomings. No one is more sensible than we ourselves of our defects in statistical matters, but I might submit to the consideration of your honourable House that not only in China, but in India* and all other countries where proper methods of land survey do not exist, the same confusion would be experienced. No one knows better than the honourable member of the British delegation, Sir Alexander Hosie, the confusion which exists at present in China in regard to the system of land survey, and therefore we need not dilate ou the fact that At the same time we do it was impossible for us to produce satisfactory statistics. not deplore the less this chaotic state of affairs, and whether the resolution passes the House or not, it shall be the duty of the Chinese delegation to draw the attention of“ the Central Government to our present inadequate system for compiling of records, and it shall also be our duty to draw the attention of the Government to the fact that the lack of such proper statistics will give rise to a certain amount of difficulty when we come to adjust matters with Great Britain.”
Extract (C).
"Resolution 3 practically denounces the use of opium for other than medical purposes, and urges that there should be a re-examination of all Government systems by which opium is produced or handled, to the end that opium shall be relegated to its proper place in medicine." (P. 70.)
The following resolution was introduced by the American delegation and eventually withdrawn ("International Opium Commission," vol. i, p. 46). It was No. 1 of the American
series.
"That, whereas the reports submitted to the International Opium Commission by the delegations present recognise that opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations are, or should be, confined to legitimate medical practice;
"Be it resolved, therefore, that in the judgment of the International Opium Commission a uniform effort should be made by the countries represented at once or in the near future to coufine the use of opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations. to legitimate medical practice in their respective territories:
And be it further resolved, that in the judgment of the International Opium Commission each Government reprosented is best able to determine for its own nationals, dependent or protected peoples, what shall be regarded as legitimate medical practice."
The following is an extract from the discussion which took place on the above (ibid, p. 50):-
"Sir C. Smith.—. In conclusion, I can only add that we shall be unable to support the resolution brought forward by the American delegation.
"Dr. Wright.-If the preamble to resolution No. 1 contained the words 'legitimate medical practice or Government regulation,' would that meet the objection of the Right Honourable Commissioner for Great Britain?
"Sir Cecil Clementi Smith. I regret to say that we consider that this would not meet the difficulties which I have already indicated at some length in the paper which I have just read.
"Dr. Rossler suggested that the words as far as practicable' might be inserted after the word 'confine' in the second paragraph of the resolution. This, he thought, might meet the objections of the British delegation.
Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.-To put it perfectly plainly, and to be entirely frank, the British delegation is not able to accept the view that opium should be confined simply and solely to medical uses.
* The speaker presumably referred to the Native States in India.
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"Dr. Hamilton Wright agreed that one of the greatest difficulties which the British Indian Government would have to contend with was the definition of what constituted legitimate medical practice,' it being impossible to apply modern Western medical ethics to a great country like India.
"After further discussion it was decided, on the motion of M. Ratard, that the further consideration of the resolution should be postponed in order that the British and American delegations might confer together."
The following is the resolution ultimately passed to which Dr. Wright refers :--- "That the International Opium Commission finds that the use of opium in any form otherwise than for medical purposes is held by almost every participating country to be a matter for prohibition or for careful regulation; and that each country in the administration of its system of regulation purports to be aiming, as opportunity offers, at progressively increasing stringency. In recording these conclusions the International Opium Commission recognises the wide variations 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 experience of other countries dealing with the same problem.'
Extract (D).
"Resolution 4 was the most difficult to carry. Proposed by the American delegation, 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 34 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 preventive service. It was urged, again, that our Government had in the National Food and Drugs Act imposed the same penalties on shippers of misbrauded 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 prevent 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 Tient-tsin treaties so that she may prohibit outright the importation of opium, the principle of suppressing exportations from opium- producing to opium-prohibiting countries would apply to her. This was recognised by several of the delegations, and was, perhaps, the single reason for the opposition to the resolution. However, the appeal of the American delegation broke the opposition, and resolution 4 was passed unanimously." "(P. 70.)
The following is the resolution as moved by the American delegation (" Inter- national Opium Commission," vol. i, p. 47)
"That, whereas the reports submitted to the International Opium Commission by the delegations present record that each Government has strict laws which are aimed directly or indirectly to prevent the smuggling of opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations into their respective territories:
"Be it resolved, therefore, that in the judgment of the International Opium Commission 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 preparations, 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 of the resolution (ibid., pp. 51-52) -
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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
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