CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 406

801

STATEMENT ADOPTED BY THE

BRITISH ANTI-OPIUM SOCIETIES, HELD

BER, 1911.

38106 404

Rre#27 NOV 11

REPRESENTATIVE

BOARD OF

IN LONDON, 22nd NOVEM-

>

DR.J.L. MAXWELL IN THE CHAIR.

This Board respectfully enters its protest against the proposed appointment of Sir Cecil Cleweuti Smith as first British delegate in the forthcoming International Opium Conference at the Haque on the following Arounds:

1. At the Shanghai International Commission, which was preliminary to the Conference, and where Sir C.C. Smith filled

a similar position, he maintained throughout an attitude at

variance with the intention of H.M.Government, as expressed

in the speech from the throne of December, 1908, to assist

China in her purpose of eradicating the opium trade in the

Chinese Empire," and with the thrice repeated declaration of

the House of Commons ( in 1891, 1900, and 1908 on the two

latter occasions unanimously adopted) that the Opium trade

between India and China is "morally indefensible." It is trus that in words he expressed sympathy with China's efforts, but

his speeches and votes throughout the Commission, except

where overruled by the majority of his British colleagues, more

opposed to every effort of the Chinese delegation to support

a radical and satisfactory solution of this question, so pro-

foundly important to China. It was thus left to the American and German delerates to give to China the practical support which she ought to have received from the British.