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inquiry it moreover transpired, that many Chinese coolies had never smoked opium prior to their arrival in Deli, and had only begun to use opium there for the first time.
In that area the same regulations as were applied in Java were not adopted in their entirety. To travellers and labourers, who moved from place to place, licences, provided with a thumbprint, valid for more than one subdistrict were issued. Further collective licences were granted to distantly situated Estates and works.
To supervise and issue permits it was necessary to appoint special officials both in Java and on the East-Coast of Sumatra. Moreover, more police had to be engaged in order to maintain the prohibition laws as much as possible and to counteract the smuggling-trade better. Where necessary this is done by extending or instituting a separate Opium-detective-branch, which is only engaged in investigation of contraventions of the opium-regulations, and other offences which have come to light in the course thereof.
The system works satisfactorily in Batavia, and causes fewer difficulties than had been expected at its inauguration.
The expenses connected with it are, just as in the case of the identification system, fairly high. The latter, as well as the finished and unfinished licence-systems, have as a result not only reduction of the revenue, but also increase of expenditure.
That the Netherlands-Indian Government, even in these times of retrenchment, still goes on with the introduction of these systems, is certainly the best proof, that it still abides by the statement made at Shanghai, that it would not permit itself to be withheld from taking the measures, which could restrict the consumption of opium, by financial considerations.
XIII.
The opium-policy in the Dutch East Indies therefore cor- responds with the spirit of the Hague Opium Convention. In order to prove, that as far as it was necessary, the regulations of that Convention were fulfilled, we have inserted
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those regulations here, with the exception of Chapter IV, which concerns only the so-called "Treaty Powers", and have indicated shortly what has been done therefor in the Dutch East Indies.
"Chapter I. Raw Opium".
"Definition.-By "raw opium" is understood:
"The spontaneously coagulated juice obtained from the "capsules of the papaver somniferum, which has only been "submitted to the necessary manipulations for packing and "transport."
"Article 1."
"The contracting Powers shall enact effective laws or "regulations for the control of the production and distri- "bution of raw opium, unless laws or regulations on the subject "are already in existence".
The cultivation of the opium poppy is forbidden throughout the Dutch East Indies. The Government sells no raw opium except in some rare cases to pharmacists. Import, possesion, preparation and sale of raw opium not destined for medical use, otherwise than by, on account of, or on behalf of the Government, are forbidden. With regard to raw opium, des- tined for medical use the same regulations exist as for the prepared opium, destined for medical use.
"Article 2."
"Due regard being had to the differences in their commercial "conditions, the contracting Powers shall limit the number "of towns, ports or other localities through which the export "or import of raw opium shall be permitted".
Where the export in the last years did not exist, and the import took place exclusively on behalf of the Government, it is unnecessary to make special regulations with regard to article 2.
"Article 3."
"The contracting Powers shall take measures:
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