57726/24.
JOPY.
jr 3994/20/87)
TED
No.
FOR
British Delegation, 426
Hotel Metropole,
Gendre, witserland.
26th November, 1924.
My dear Waterlow,
The
1 wrote to you very laurriedly last night and only
had time for a few words about the question of the proposed Commission of Inquiry. You may rely on me to do my best
when the Americano bring forward the question of the use
of prepared opium in the Far Eastern Territories of the Powers.
It is not olear yet how or when the matter will be raised. body of proposals which the America Delegation have submitted to the Conference include two whio, are clearly outside the scope of
the Conference. The first is a proposal that the Contracting
Parties shall control the production and distribution of raw
opium so that there will be no surplus available for purposes
not strictly medical or scientific. The other is that the
Contracting Parties in whese Territories the use of prepared
opium is temporarily pemitted shall agree to reduce the import- ation of prepared opium for that purpose by ten per cent. sach
year so as to bring it to an end within a period of ten years.
The first proposal raises the question of the domestio consumption of opium in India and unless the Americans withdr SU
it, there will be a battle royal betwem Campbell and Jorter,
and the question of the competence of the Jonference to discuss
matters not specifically included in its Agenda will be raised. The decision on that point will have a bearing on the other
American proposal with regard to the use of prepared opium.
If the second proposal is brought up for discussion
then the course which the proceedings are likely to take will be as follows. The Netherlands Delegation will refuse absolutely
to take part in any discussion on the subject, and some of the
other Powers, if not all, whose Territories are affected will
sobe. (1807) m, 0.
probably/ 7