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At a series of meetings held from the 1st to the 9th July, 1913; the Conference, having examined the question submitted to it under paragraph 2 of article 23 of the International Opium Convention of the 23rd January, 1912,
1. Has decided that the deposit of ratifications may now take place.
2. Has unanimously adopted the following resolution :--
Desiring to pursue, in the path first entered on by the International Commission of Shanghai of 1909 and by the first Conference at The Hague of 1912, the progressive suppression of the abuse of opium, morphine, and cocaine, and of the drugs prepared or derived from these substances, and more than ever convinced of the necessity and on this matter, the Second mutual advantage of an international agreement International Opium Conference,
(1.) Resolves that the Government of the Netherlands may be pleased to inform the Governments of Austria-Hungary, Norway, and Sweden that the signature, ratification, preparation of legislative measures, and the enforcement of the convention, constitute four distinct stages which allow these Powers to proceed at once to supplemental signature.
Indeed, it is provided by articles 23 and 24 that a period of six months may elapse between the enforcement of the convention and the preparation of bills, Also, the third regulations and other measures contemplated by the convention. paragraph of article 24 allows the contracting Powers to come to an agreement after Furthermore, ratification as to the date of the enactment of such legislative measures. it must be observed that the difficulties anticipated by Austria-Hungary, Norway, and Sweden, as regards their legislation, were foreseen by the delegates of the signatory Powers, and were, indeed, the subject of thorough examination by the twelve contracting Powers. Almost all the signatory Powers are in the same position as the above-mentioned Powers, and have not yet formulated all the measures contemplated by the convention.
(2.) Resolves that the Government of the Netherlands may be pleased to communicate to the Governments of Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Peru, Roumania, Servia, Turkey, and Uruguay, the following resolution :--
"The Conference regrets that certain Governments have as yet declined or failed to sign the convention. The Conference is of the opinion that the abstention of these Powers would prejudice most seriously the humanitarian enda sought by the convention. The Conference expresses the firm hope that these Powers will alter their Degative or dilatory attitude."
(3.) Resolves that the Government of the Netherlands may be pleased to inform the Swiss Government that they are mistaken in their belief that their co-operation will be almost valueless. Contrary to the view expressed in the letter of the Federal Council of the 25th October, 1912, the Conference believes that the co-operation of Switzerland will be most useful, while its abstention will jeopardise the results of the convention. As for the consideration advanced by the Federal Council concerning the respective fields of federal and cantonal legislation, it may be observed that similar difficulties confronted the first Conference, which took them into account while drafting he text of the convention.
(4.) Invites the signatory Governments to instruct their representatives abroad to support the above-mentioned representations of their Netherlands colleagues.
3. Has resolved as follows:-
That should the signature of all the Powers invited in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 23 not be obtained by the 31st December, 1913, the Government of the Netherlands will immediately request the signatory Powers to appoint delegates to proceed to The Hague to examine into the possibility of putting into effect the International Opium Convention of the 23rd January, 1912.
In witness whereof the delegates have attached their signatures to this protocol.
Done at The Hague, the 9th July, 1913, in one instrument, which shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the Netherlands, and copies of which,
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duly certified, shall be forwarded through diplomatic channels to all the signatory and the non-signatory Powers.
For Germany:
F. DE MÜLLER,
For The United States of America:
HAMILTON WRIGHT.
LLOYD BRYCE,
GERRIT J. KOLLEN.
For the Argentine Republic:
FRANC. DE VEYGA.
For Belgium:
BN. ALB. FALLON.
For The United States of Brazil:
GRAÇA ARANHA.
For Chile:
JORJE HUNEEUS.
For China:
W. W. YEN.
WU LIEN TEH.
For Colombia:
CHR. HISCHEMÖLLER,
For Costa Rica:
MANUEL M. DE PERATA.
For Denmark :
W. GREVENKOP CASTENSKJOLD.
For the Dominican Republic:
J. LAMARCHE.
For Ecuador:
JORJE HUNEEUS.
For Spain:
MANUEL G. DE ACILU.
For France:
MARCELLIN PELLET.
For Great Britain:
W. G. MAX MÜLLER. WILLIAM JOB COLLINS.
For Hayti:
STENIO VINCENT.
For Italy:
BRICHANTEAU.
For Japan:
J. SHINOBU.
(With the reserve of the eventual
approval of his Government.)
For Luxembourg:
BN. ALB. FALLON,
For the United States of Mexico:
F. GAMBOA.
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