7
6
offers, at progressively increasing stringency. In recording these conclusions, the International Opium Commission recognises the wide variations between the condii- tions prevailing in the different countries, but it would urge on the attention of the Governments concerned the desirability of a re-examination of their systems of regulation in the light of the experience of other countries dealing with the same problem.
4. That the International Opium Commission finds that each Government represented has strict laws which are aimed, directly or indirectly, to prevent the smuggling of opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations, into their respective territories; in the judgment of the International Opium Commission it is also the duty of all countries to adopt reasonable measures to prevent at ports of departure the shipment of opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations, to any country which prohibits the entry of opium, its alkaloids, derivatives, and preparations.
5. That the International Opium Commission finds that the unrestricted manufac- ture, sale, and distribution of morphine already constitute a grave danger, and that the morphine habit sbows signs of spreading; the International Opiuta Commission therefore desires to urge strongly on all Governments that it is highly important that drastie measures should be taken by each Government in its own territories and possessions to control the manufacture, sale, and distribution of this drug, and also of such other derivatives of opium as may appear on scientific enquiry to be liable to similar abuse and productive of like ill-effects.
6. That as the International Opium Commission is not constituted in such a manner as to permit the investigation from a scientific point of view of anti-opium remedies and of the properties and effects of opium and its products, but deems such investigation to be of the highest importance, the International Opium Commission desires that each delegation shall recommend this branch of the subject to its own Government for such action as that Government may think necessary.
7. That the International Opium Commission strongly urges all Governments possessing concessions or settlements in China which have not yet taken effective action toward the closing of opium divans in the said concessions and settlements to take steps to that end, as soon as they may deem it possible, on the lines already adopted by several Governments.
8. That the International Opium Commission recommends strongly that each delegation move its Government to enter into negotiations with the Chinese Government with a view to effective and prompt measures being taken in the various foreign concessions and settlements in China for the prohibition of the trade and manufacture of such anti-opium remedies as contain opium or its derivatives.
9. That the International Opium Commission recommends that each delegation move its Goveroment to apply its pharmacy laws to its subjects in the consular districts, concessions, and settlements in China.
Although no formal declaration was made, it was a matter of discussion, and was recognised by the commission as a whole that the foregoing resolutions, however 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 Shanghai 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 Shanghai 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:
the
control
(a.) The advisability of uniform national laws and regulations to
production, manufacture, and distribution of opium, its derivatives and preparations.
(b.) The advisability of restricting the number of ports through which opium may be shipped by opium-producing countries.
(a) The means to be taken to prevent at the port of departure the shipment of opium, its derivatives and preparations, to countries that probibit, 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.
(.) The propriety of restudying treaty obligations and international under which the opium traffic is at present conducted.
agreements (i.) 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.
() 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.
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 to negotiate and conclude an agreement, provided that the Government to which powers, 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 Shanghai Commission,
I
am, &c.
ALVEY A. ADEE,
Acting Secretary of State.
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