OPIUM.
Conclusions of Interdepartmental Conference
at the Home Office on Friday, 19th Deor. 1924.
513
:
1. That the draft Agreement reashed at the First Opium
Conference in regard to the measures to be taken for the mar e
effective application of Chapter II. (Opium Smoking) of the
Hague Convention should be signed by the British Government an
soon as poss ble.
2. That (subject to the agreement of other Governments,
as provided in the next paragraph) the British Govemment should:
agree to an opportunity being given to the American Delegation
at the Second Gonference to state in the Conference as fully as
they wish their case for the proposals which they have brought
forward on the subject of the suppression of the use of opium
for smoking, the British and other delegates having equel
opportunity of replying and defending the policy and sation of
their Govem ments; but that there should be no abandonment of
the position already taken up that the Second Conference is not
competent to decide any of the questions (relating to Opium
Smoking) relegated to the First Conference, and in the event of
the American proposal to extend the scope of the Conference being
put to the vote the British representative should vote against
the proposal.
3. That the other Governments concerned in the First
Conference who have acted in concert with us should be informed
at once of the two foregoing proposals: and that our adherence
to the policy in paragraph 2 should be absolutely dependent on
its acceptame by Prance and Holland. If necessary, Sir Malcolm
1.