246
There are abundant reasons of a more general nature for deploring any drastic or ill-considered action in prematurely suppressing the Opium Traffic in the Eastern Colonies. They may be briefly summarized as follows.
Abolition of the Government Monopoly would not abolish the demand for the drug. A vast increase in contraband traffic would inevitably ensue, which the resources of the Colonial Governments would be powerless to suppress.
The Opium habit would be replaced by the far greater and more unmanageable evils of excessive indulgence in alcohol, and the craving for morphine, cocaine and ever similar drugs. Recent developments in China afford ample proof of this.
The native population, if suddenly deprived of a drug to the enjoyment of which they have been accustomed for generations, would be subjected to a very real hardship and injustice, resentment at which might easily assume an active and dangerous form. In any event, immigration from China, upon which Malaya in particular is very largely dependent for commercial prosperity, would be diverted to other territories.
The Governments of the Eastern Colonies have strictly complied with the terms of every article of the Hague Opium Convention of 1912, although it has not been a free country.
In accordance with Article 6, which prescribes that measures shall be taken "for the gradual and effective suppression of the manufacture of, internal trade in, and use of, prepared Opium, with due regard to the varying circumstances of each country concerned, unless regulations on the subject are already in existence", a consistent policy has been pursued of gradually limiting the consumption and raising the price of the prepared article. In Hong Kong, for example, the average annual consumption of the Chinese population has been reduced from 3.24 taels per caput in 1912 to .94 taels in 1919. In the Straits Settlements the price of prepared Opium to the consumer has been gradually raised from $3 per tael in 1910 to $12.50 in 1919. In reply to a despatch from the Secretary of State enquiring what further steps, consistent with safety, could be taken to comply with Article 6 of the Convention, the Governors of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements in 1919 recommended certain administrative measures to ensure greater stringency of control and limitation of consumption, which have since been carried into effect; they emphatically expressed the view, however, that any precipitate or violent departure from the policy of "gradual suppression" was certain to prove not only impracticable but actually dangerous to the welfare of the Colony.
246
are abundant reasons of a more general nature for
deploring any drastic or ill-considered action in
prematurely suppressing the Opium Traffic in the
Eastern Colonies. They may be briefly summarized
as follows.
Abolition of the Government Konopoly would
not abolish the demand for the drug. A vast in-
crease in contraband traffic would inevitably ensue,
which the resources of the Colonial Governments
would be powerless to suppres8.
The Opium habit would be replaced by the
far greater and more unmanageable evils of excessive
indulgence in alcohol, and the craving for morphine,
cocaine and ever similar drugs.
confirmation
Recent develop-
ments in China afford empie, pleed of this.
100 The native population, if suddenly depriv-
ed of a drug to the enjoyment of which they have
been accustomed for generatione, would be subjected
to a very real hardship and injustice, resentment at
which might easily assume an active and dangerous
form. In any event, immigration from Chine, upon
which Halaya in particular is very largely dependent
for commercial prosperity, would be diverted to
other territories.
in fast
The Governments of the Eastern Colonies
have strictly complied with the terms of every
article of the Hague Opium Convention of 1912, although it has mit beu a firee.
In accordance with Article 6, which prescribes that
measures shall be taken "for the gradual and effective
suppression of the manufacture of, internal trade in,
and use of, prepared Opium, with due regard to the
varying circumstances of each country concerned,
unless regulations on the subject are already in
existence
existence", a consistent policy has been pursued of
--
gradually limiting the consumption and raising the
price of the prepared article. In Hong Kong, for
example, the average annual consumption of the
Chinese population has been reduced from 3.24 taels
per caput in 1912 to .94 taela in 1919. In the
Straits Settlements the price of prepared Opium to
the consumer has been gradually raised from $3 per
tael in 1910 to $12.50 in 1919. In reply to a
despatch from the Secretary of State enquiring what
further steps, consistent with safety, could be
taken to comply with Article 6 of the Convention,
the Governors of Hong Kong and the Straits
Settlements in 1919 recommended certain administrative
measures to ensure greater stringency of control and limitation of consumption"
which have since been
carried into effect; they emphatically expressed the
view, however, that any precipitate or violent
departure from the policy of "gradual suppression"
was certain to prove not only impracticable but
actually dangerous to the welfare of the Colony.
6. The foregoing is of necessity a mere out-
line of the case for the Eastern Colonies. It is
hoped, however, that enough has been said to justify
the contention that the special interests of Hong
Kong and British Malaya demand special representation
on the Advisory Committee to the Council of the
League. Should the appointment of an additional
Member directly representing these Colonies be found
impracticable, it is submitted that the British
Representative be specifically instructed to use
every endeavour to safeguard these interests, and
with
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