certificate sheimng that he has
satisfied the authorities of the School with regard to his regularity of attendance, progress, and proficiency, or in the event of his failing to take up his appoint- ment or relinquishing it within three years of the date of his arrival in the Colony for way other reason thun mental or physical infirmity. The form of this agreement should be similar to that which is prescribed in section 121 mis jauting to obtain at the end of the cOUTSE
of the Colonial Regulations relating to the cost of passages.
His address is
I am,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
FRANCIS 3. S. HOPWOOD.
The Crown Agents
for the Colonics.
فر لها
The Opium Convention.
The Opiare Convention recently sigued at The Hague marks un advance in internationai fegislation, in so far that, for the Erst time. the Powers chiefly concerned havo definitely recognized, in principio, their several and collective responsibilities for the prevention af vices arising from the abuse of opium, norpleine, and other similar drugs, and have given their more assent to
mezcures to
com!.
be hereafter devised for the regulation of the frado in these drugs. The wording of the Convention, in its inal form, clearly reflects the difficulties which beset inter-
questions SO national legislation on plicated by racial and commercial differ- ences: many of its clauses constitute. for the present, little inero than a declaration of good intentions, which will require for their falfilmont, int, adherence, and later, suparate legislation, by all nations. Articles 12 and 13, for instance, which more then any others affect the itamediate interests of Great Britain and her Colonice, hind the contracting Porrers to use their best endeavours" to restrict to peasons duly authorized the importation and exportation of morphine, pocaine, and their respenlive salts. The authoritative Franch test of these Articles Says "Les Puissances Contractantes s'efforceront"--this wording represents the corapremise finally accepted to Lingot two difficulties in which the German dele- grates were placed by the fact that, although plenipotenturies, they were unable to pledge the German Government and the Reichstag ito fuure
concerning legislation Which arc, propszty—psali hatuers for
maiters
the separate Brates of the Empire. Article 13 emphasizes the face (which hast bare im- pressed itself more and more clearly on the Conference as it came down to logical core elusions) that for practical purposes
valoo of its labours rust depend upon the adherence of all rations. It would undoubtedly i have simplified waters had it been possible | to being together, in addition to the twelve Powers which here setually signed the Con- vention, representatives of those thirty-four other Powers which the Government of the Netherlands is now inviting to subscribe ; ; but the practical difficulties would have becn enormously increased. It is understood that the Govererunt of the United States has under-i taken to approach the several Governments of the North Amerien Republics to secure their adherence and co-operation, and it is hoped that the signature of the Convention by drie- gates of all nations will have been seared by the end of the current year.
Article 23 pro- vides that, if at that date all the Puwers ad- desssed have not signed, then the Dutch Government shall invite all those which, have done so to send dolegates to The Hague to consider the possibility of ratifying the Con- vention not thstanding. In Article 24 it is bil down that "in the event of questiona arising *in regard to ratification, or to the carrying into effect of the Convention itself, cz of the laws, regulations, and measures renting therefrom, the Dutch Loverment will (otivar incate failing) invite all the contracting Porore to appoint delegaten, who shall meet at The Hague. to come to an immediate anderstanding on these questions." There
is therefore good reason for thinking that the Opium Conference has not said goon-bye, but jau revoir, bo The Hagite.
The wording of Article 7. dealing with the Turks in round as distinct from row optura, interest 20sy corrupt world of good intentions. The fryt cause of the Shanghai Conference of 1909 was the desire of the civilized world to support the anti-opium movement in China. The aboli. tion of the smuggling bases at Hong kong and Macao sat in the Straits wan obviously necessary to make that support effective. Great Britain, acting for India and the Fur Eastern Colonica, has done everything in this direction that altruista and roorality could ¡demand; but the interests of Macho, as a preparing and snuggling depôt for optam, s not yet definitely abandoned. Article 7 reads:The contracting Powers will prohibit the import and export of prepared ephan; those. inswever, which are not get ready to pro hibit stat one shall do so as soon as possible." It is true that the "unroudy" conniries pledge themselves in the next Article to cost their inde under protective regulations, but the fuct retains that no regulations can effectively control the Kwang-tang opien traffic so long as a convenicat base of supply remains openi to snugglerz.
The inmediate interest of the Convention for Crost Britain and Fadiales chindly in the measures beráter to be adopted for controlling the rapidly increasing trafic iu inorphine and corino. By the terms of the Anglo Chinose Agreement of 1307, modified in May of last year, China obtained a tres hand to terminato, em jalan or by provinces, the trade in Indion opiom pari pues with her can suppression of poppy !cultivation. The fortunes of the anti-opizm movement in China, therefore, for the future depend upon that routy alone. What- ever China may or may not do, we may safely assume that the contemplated cessation of the Indo-Chinese opium trade iz final. The present. Convenion embodies the latest panifestationa of Chinese activitica fac. the suppression of Toplum smuggling and sucking, as well as the! ¦ syropathotic acquioscence of the Treaty Powers! in their proposale-conditional, however, m anme degree of fabilment. Some of these pro-i posals are evidently impracticable for many yours to come, and the attitude of the Fourts in regard to them is, therefore, of necessity cantions. Article 15, for instance, states that the Chinese Geverament wall inpose Pharmacy lave on its subjects to regulate the sale and "distribution of morphins, cocaine, and it is agreed that the Treaty Powers will in A C.," dae course consider these laws, and, if feand; acceptable, will tako the mensures necessary fo impose them upon their nationals resident in Chins. But people which has declined to pay a j ricksha tax in Peking or a stamp duty in the provinces is not likely to take these Pharmacy laws any more seriously than the thousand-anxi- jone paper regulations with which the burRANE- cary busy thornsolves in vain. It remains Jan undeniable fuet, of recent experience, at
the south of the buncitum copiin pits trader in China has been largely due in official enter priza. One must not forget the uncertain tenure of leadership in Chiu ani the chromte need of ' the local governments for money. There were unpleasant verriders of these things on route; than one cecusing of the recent Conference, notably in communicated repert to the effect! that, during the disorders caused by the Revolu- tion, many oplunu done and divas have been reopens in the witive city of Shanghai, where their trade fourishes the tere because all jeze establishments have heen closed by the
authorities of the Foreign Settlements.
The Times
Feb 14th 1912
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