CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 310

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important morally, 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 Shanghae Commission, the United States deems it important that international effect and sanction 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 Powers, and that the delegates should have full powers to conventionalise the resolutions adopted at Shanghae and their necessary consequences. The Government of the United States suggests as a tentative programme, based upon the resolutions and proceedings of the International Commis- sion, the following:--

(a.) The advisability of uniform national laws and regulations to control the production, manufacture, and distribution of opium, its derivatives, and preparations.

(6.) The advisability of restricting the number of ports through which opium may be shipped by opium-producing countries.

(c.) The means to be taken to prevent at the port of departure the shipment of opium, its derivatives, and preparations to countries that prohibit, or wish to prohibit, or control their entry.

(d.) The advisability of reciprocal notification of the amount of opium, its derivatives, and preparations shipped from one country to another.

(e.) Regulation by the Universal Postal Union of the transmission of opium, its derivatives, and preparations through the mails.

(f) The restriction or control of the cultivation of the poppy, so that the production of opium will not be undertaken by countries which at present do not produce it, to compensate for the reduction being made in British India and China.

(9.) The application of the pharmacy laws of the Governments concerned to their subjects in the consular districts, concessions, and settlements in China.

(h) The propriety of restudying treaty obligations and international agreements under which the opium traffic is at present conducted.

(7) The advisability of uniform provisions of penal laws concerning offences against any agreements that the Powers may make in regard to opium production and traffic.

(j) The advisability of uniform marks of identification of packages containing opium in international transit.

(k) The advisability of permits to be granted to exporters of opium, its derivatives, and preparations.

(2) The advisability of reciprocal right of search of vessels suspected of carrying contraband opium.

(m.) The advisability of measures to prevent the unlawful use of a flag by vessels engaged in the opium traffic.

(n.) The advisability of an international commission to be entrusted with the carrying out of any international agreement concluded.

Without attempting to prescribe the scope of the conference, or to present a programme which may not be varied nor enlarged, the Government of the United States believes that the foregoing suggestions might properly serve as the basis at least for preliminary discussion, and invites a formal expression of opinion not merely upon the topics outlined, but an enumeration of other aspects of the opium problem which may seem of peculiar importance to any participating nation. The United States considers it important that an exchange of views take place as early as possible before the meeting of the conference.

If the programme, as outlined, meets with the approval of the Government to which you are accredited, it will be highly serviceable that on some subsequent date- for example, on or before the 1st December of the current year-the participating Governments exchange their views, together with such recommendations and observa- tions as occur to them. This course will not only facilitate the work of the conference and materially shorten its labours, but enable the Government of the United States to prepare in advance a definitive programme based upon the suggestions and views of the participating Governments.

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You are therefore directed to transmit a copy of this instruction to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government to which you are accredited, and at the same time to request that a delegate or delegates be appointed, furnished with full powers, to negotiate and conclude an agreement, provided that the Government to which you are accredited is favourable to the idea of an international conference for the suppression of the opium evil, as the result of the enquiries of the Shanghae Commission.

I am, &c.

ALVEY A. ADEE,

Acting Secretary of State.

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