438
20.
Section 35. This section provides that, in the event of the continued illicit cultivation of the opium conpy in any village, the hole population may be punished. It ill be observed however, that this ill only be done after due official notice. Gollective punishment appears to ho the only means of dealing with the matter.
66.
CONCLUSION.
Reference has already been made ( para.25) to the subject of the extra-territorial rights of persons un- der foreign jurisdiction, and the difficultice this throVS in the way of detection of the 1111cit sale of opium, if it is carrion out in plaocs in the occupation of purso ns not amunable to Siamcec jurisdiction. Such places cannot be raided or scached ithout a Consular warrant, and the trouble and time innvolved in obtaining the requisite focument is too
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11 known to require further communt. It is sufficicnt to say that the delay in many cases cnables the illicit dealer to remove all traces of his misdemeanour. The strict- or the control becomes, the more will persons desirous of committing offences against the Opium Law, endeavour to shelter thums:1vcs bchind the protection afforded by Foreign Consular jurisdiction.
67. The three sons, therefore, thich at present deter this Government from putting into forec at once the only unsurc by -hich the eventual suppression of opium smoking ca b attained viz., the registration of smokers, are all due to causes beyond th.ir control. These arct-
(A) Financial:- the inability to raise the requisite rcv.nue to cover the deficit which will result from the initiation of the system of registration of smokers.
(B) Extnal; th. smugling of opium from other
countries,
(C) Internal:- the rant of control over the illicit gal of opium by certain for ign subjects, due to extra- territorial jurisdiction.
BANGKOK, 14th February, 1921
K