2
now no fresh resolution dealing with this point has been presented by any other delegation.
On the subject of uniform marking or branding item (e) the resolution suggested by the British delegation was eventually passed unanimously, though modified at the suggestion of the German delegation so as to relate only to parcels of raw opium exceeding 5 kilogs, in weight.
The two remaining items of the programme gave rise to but little difficulty, and the resolutions proposed under them were accepted by the conference with unanimity. Germany, it is true, only approved of the last resolution (transmission of raw opium through the post) ad referendum, but in a subsequent session M. von Müller explained that the reason of his reservation was uncertainty as to the scope of the resolution, and withdrew his reservation.
Besides copies of the minutes of the third, fourth and fifth plenary sessions, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith on a separate paper the text of the six resolutions passed by the conference and dealing with raw opium, with a statement as to the reserves made to each by the various delegations.
40
I would point out that for practical reasons it was found necessary to amend the definition of raw opium which had been adopted on the advice of the technical delegates, and to delete the second paragraph of that definition. The definition of raw opium therefore now reads as follows, "raw opium is the spontaneously coagulated juice obtained from the capsules of the papaver somniferum and which has only been submitted to the necessary manipulations for packing and transport.
I have, &c.
CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH.
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
973
CO [December 21.] 2018
SECTION 4.
REGE20 JAN 12
[51172]
No. 1.
Sir C. Clementi Smith to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 21.) (No. 3.) Sir,
The Hague, December 18, 1911. THE discussion of Chapter II of the programme dealing with prepared opium was begun by the International Opium Conference in its 6th plenary session on the 12th instant. The first resolution was one by the Netherlands delegation simply proposing the prohibition of all exportation and importation of prepared opium, but there was also on the paper a whole series of resolutions under the various heads of Chapter II put forward by the American delegation, which were of a less drastic nature than the Netherlands resolution, and aimed at obtaining the maximum amount of control over the trade short of total prohibition, in case the ideal of total prohibition should prove to be unrealisable. Indeed, Dr. Hamilton Wright informed the conference that, in the event of the Netherlands resolution being accepted unanimously, he was prepared to withdraw all the suggestions put forward by his delegation.
The Netherlands resolution was in the following terms:----
"The Governments taking part in the conference bind themselves to prohibit, as a general regulation, the importation and exportation of prepared opium. However, in so far as exportation is concerned, they shall be empowered to permit in certain well fixed cases that opium be taken on board ships for the personal use of the crew during the course of the voyage."
The second paragraph of this resolution was by comnion consent withdrawn as relating to a question of domestic regulation. In regard to the main part of the resolution, the Portuguese delegation declared their inability to accept it unless the word "gradually" was inserted after " prohibit," and proposed this alteration as an amendment. The amendment was, however, rejected, and the vote taken on the resolution itself, when eight delegations accepted the resolution; one, Siam, accepted with a reserve; Portugal voted against it; and Great Britain accepted it ad referendum. The same evening we sent a telegram to you enquiring whether we were authorised to vote in favour of the resolution.
In order to enable the delegations to discuss informally among themselves the important principles which were involved in item (a) of Chapter II of the programme, the discussion of the American resolution under that head was postponed to the next day, 13th December. It was then supported by the Chinese delegation, and the Portuguese delegate, in a speech to which I would call your attention, had an oppor- tunity of explaining the attitude of his Government towards this important question. After some further discussion the resolution was accepted unanimously in the following
terms-
"It is agreed that all Governments represented in the conference should take measures for the gradual and effective suppression of the manufacture, distribution, and use of prepared opium with due regard to the varying circumstances of each country concerned.'
In the meantime, after the vote on the Netherlands resolution on the 12th December, the conference proceeded to the consideration of the various American resolutions under the remaining heads of Chapter II. No difficulty was encountered in these discussions except with regard to the proposal under item (d) for mutual uotifi- cation. In this, as in the analogous case under item (d) of Chapter 1, the resolution was withdrawn, and none has been offered to take its place. The resolutions under items (b), (c), (c), (ƒ), and (g) were all accepted unanimously, with one reserve (by Portugal) to the resolution on branding under item (e). I have the honour to enclose herewith the full text of the resolutions passed under Chapter II (prepared opium) and copies of the procès-verbaux of the 6th and 7th plenary sessions of the 12th and 13th December,* giving a report of the debates on this part of our work.
I have, &c.
CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH.
* Not printed.
[2297 x 4
--4]