CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 407

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2.

This attitud on the part of Sir C.C. Smith was con-

spicjously shown in the debate on the American d l-pations

proposal, supported by the Chinese, to declare that, in the

judgment of the Commission," a uniform effort should be made

by the countries represented

to confine the use of

opium

#

which he

to logitimate medical practice,"

opposed by the frank declaration that "the British delegation

is not able to accept the view that opium should be confined

simply and solely to medical uses. This opposition, which was

not prescribed by the instructions of H.M. Government (published

in China No.2, 1909) and as to which we have yet to learn that

it was authorised by any decision of the British delegation,

appears to us to strike at the root of all efficient interna-

tional regulation of the Opium trade. It runs counter to the

legislation of all Western States, to the vigorous anti-o; lum

policy adopt d by Japan ever since her ports were opened to Western trade, and to the recent logislation of all the British self-governing colonies, as well as to the reforming policy of

China.

The only examples of legislation founded on any other principle are supplied by the British, French, Dutch and Portu-

cose administrations of their possessions and protectorates

in the Far East (other than Ceylon and Wei-hai-wei), which are

under strong temptation to raise revenue out of the vices and

weaknesses of subject races.

$

3. This attitude on the part of Sir C.C. Smith was

further shown by his calling upon the Chinese delegate,

Mr. Tang Kuo-nn, to state whether the position assumed by im on this question was in conformity with the instructions of his Government, a challenge which it is inconceivable that he

would have addressed to a Gemaan or French delegate, and which therefore ignored the cardinal principle of international law