300
as regards Cocaine, the abstention of Peru would
of itself counteract any efforts that the European
Powers
-
even if themselves united
-
might make to
put an end to the illicit trade in the drug. It
appears from the enclosure in Monsieur Van der Goes'
Note that Switzerland certainly, and Austria-Hungary,
Norway and Peru probably, will not be prepared to
adhere to the Convention.
Should this be so the
Board are strongly of opinion that the convention in
its present form will fuil to produce the beneficial
effects intended, and they therefore consider that
the strongest effort should be made to induce the
Countries named to adhere to the Convention, even if,
as is possible, this should necessitate the postponement
of ratification by His Majesty's Government.
The abstention of any European country of impor-
tance would be fatal to the Convention in two distinct,
ways.
-
(1) In the first place, it would be open to manu-
facturers in those countries to prepare morphla and
cocaine and export it without restriction to the East.
In regard to this point the Board understand from Mr.
Whiffen