CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 682

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Chorally, would fail to satisfy enlightened public opinion

unless by subsequent agreement of the Powers they and the

minor questions involved in them were incorporated in an

international convention.

Impressed by the gravity of the opium problem and the

desirability of divesting it of local and unwise agitation,

as

well as the necessity of maintaining it upon the basis

$

of fact as determined by the Shanghai Commission, the United

btates deems it important that international effect and sanc

tion be given to the resolutions of the International Opium

Commission, and to this end proposes that an international

conference be held at a convenient date at The Hague or

elsewhere, composed of one or more delegates of each of

the participating Fowers, and that the delegates should

have full powers to conventionalize the resolutions adopt-

ed at Shanghai, and their necessary consequences. The Gov-

emment of the United States suggests as a tentative pro-

gramme, based upon the resolutions and

International Commission, the following:

proceedings of the

(a) The advisability of uniform national lows and

regulations to control the production, manufacture, and

distribution of opium, its derivatives and preparations;

(b)....