12
THE OPIUM EVIL.
The Italian Government has pointed out the importance of the question of the traffic in Indian hemp drugs to that Government and has suggested that the conference might advantageously deal with the question of this traffic.
The Netherlands Government, while agreeing to the general principles of the tenta- tive program, at the same time observed that for the Netherlands Indies, where the culture of the poppy does not exist and where the opium régie has been or will be intro- duced, the question of most importance to the Netherlands Government is for the conference to arrive at an agreement as to measures to be taken to combat the smug- gling of opium.
The Russian Government, while approving in principle of the general tenor of the tentative program, took exception to item (f) inasmuch as there is almost no pro- duction of opium in Russia, and for that reason the restriction and control of the culti- vation of the poppy, as provided for by that item, would be superfluous as far as Russia is concerned, and would oppose a serious obstacle to the development of one of the branches of Russian agriculture.
The other powers have accepted the tentative program as a basis for discussion, reserving their particular views upon it, which will be expressed at the conference itself.
You will see, therefore, that, although the tentative program proposed by the United States has been in some respects narrowed by the reservations made by several of the powers, generally speaking, the scope of the work of the conference has been broadened by the suggestions that it include in its deliberations the question of the manufacture of and trade in morphine and cocoaine and the Indian hemp drugs. It therefore seems to this Government desirable that the production of and traffic in all habit-forming drugs which have been proved to be a menace to the moral, physical, and economic welfare of the world would be considered by the conference and ade- quately dealt with by it in the spirit of resolution 5 of the International Opium Coni- mission, which places a ban on all drugs which appear on scientific inquiry to be liable to abuse and productive of the ill effects of opium, its derivatives, or preparations.
It would be inexpedient to limit you by too rigid instructions upon the different. questions which may be brought forward in the conference for discussion; but you should closely bear in mind that, though it has been clearly demonstrated that the United States has large material interests in any action which the conference may take, this Government has no revenue of moment at stake; and that primarily the international movement for the suppression of the opium evil was initiated by this Government with the object of assisting China in her recent and energetic effort to suppress her opium evil.
*
*
*
*
*
All of your communications and reports to this Government will be made to the Department of State for due consideration and final preservation in the archives. The records of the delegation will be kept by its secretary, Mr. Frederic L. Huidekoper. Should you be in doubt at any time in regard to the meaning or effect of these instruc- tions, or should you consider at any time that there is occasion for special instructions, you will communicate concisely with the Department of State by telegraph.
I may say to you that it is the President's earnest desire that the very old and troublesome opium problem growing out of the abuse of opium and the allied habit- forming drugs may be successfully dealt with by the conférence.
I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
ALVEY A. ADEE.
The Dutch Government set aside for the use of the conference a part of the Hall of the Knights, the seat of the States General, and on the first day of December, 1912, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the con- ference was opened by his excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands in the presence of the delegations representing the twelve nations, the diplomatic corps, the press, and the general public. His excellency the foreign minister made a felicitous address of welcome, saying amongst other things, that the Netherlands Gov- ernment considered it a special privilege to greet at the royal residence a conference of eminent diplomats and experts arrived from the four quarters of the globe to discuss an international problem; that the problem before the conference pressingly claimed solution for the wel- fare of mankind; that the conference would have to deal with one of
THE OPIUM EVIL.
13
those complications of Providence where God had created a plant containing in itself the elements to make it a real benefactor to humanity, but where man had by an abuse of that benefit transferred it into a scourge spreading economic ruin and moral as well as intel- lectual degradation; that the Netherlands Government had been anxious for the honor of seeing the conference meet on Netherlands soil, the mother country of vast colonies where the opium problem was of great actual importance, and that the interested governments responding to that appeal with an enthusiasm as graceful as it was flattering, he extended the welcome of the royal government to the conference as a tribute of gratitude.
At the conclusion of this address of welcome the first delegate of the Netherlands Government proposed for president of the confer- ence Bishop Charles II. Brent, of the American delegation. This was seconded by the chiefs of the British and German delegations. With the unanimous consent of the assembly, Bishop Brent accepted the presidency and then delivered an address, partly personal, in which, besides thanking the conference for the honor of the presi- dency, he called attention to the work of the International Opium Commission, which convened in 1909, and then outlined the purpose for which the International Opium Conference had been assembled. On the termination of the presidential address, and with the consent of the conference, the president proposed the personnel of the secre- tary general's office. His Excellency R. de Marees van Swinderen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dutch Government, was elected honorary president. In the name of the conference the president dispatched the following message to Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands:
The representatives of the 12 nations assembled at The IIague for the International Opium Conference have the honor to lay at the feet of Your Royal Majesty the homage of their most respectful devotion and the expression of their gratitude for the gracious reception given to them in your residence.
At the second plenary session of the conference the president read the following telegram:
I am glad to see at The Hague the representatives of twelve States assembled for an International Opium Conference. Thanking you, Mr. President, for the feelings which you have interpreted, I express to you my good wishes for the humanitarian goal of the conference.
WILHELMINA.
Previous to the assembling of the conference, the Netherlands minister for foreign affairs had requested the Amerian delegation to suggest a body of rules to govern the conference. At the second plenary session the conference proceeded to consider the tentative rules proposed by the American delegation, which were as follows:
Rule I. The International Opium Conference is composed of all the plenipoten- tiaries and technical delegates of the powers which have accepted the proposal of the United States Government and the invitation of the Government of the Queen of the Netherlands.
Rule II. After organizing its bureau, the conference shall appoint committees to study the questions submitted to it. The plenipotentiaries of the powers are free to register on the lists of these committees according to their own convenience, and to appoint technical delegates to take part therein.
Rule III. The conference shall appoint the chairman of each committee. The committees shall appoint their secretaries and reporters.
Rule IV. Each committee shall have the power to divide itself into subcommit- tees which shall organize their own bureau.
244
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.