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come from the Opium-regie, it is examined in the factory where it is determined, whether it did or not.
For those parts of the Dutch East Indies, where the pos- session of opium was forbidden to every one, this prohibition was maintained, when the Regie was introduced, with some exceptions. These had relation to cases, where the prohibition existed only on paper and the use of opium among distinct groups of the population had already attained such dimensions, that it was impossible to exterminate it at once. But also in these cases the prohibition was maintained for the other groups of the population. Apart from that the Opium-regie restricts itself to a passive attitude.
It avoided everything which could increase its use, but it took only very few measures, which directly aimed at a decrease of the use.
In 1908, however, the Opium-regie was also utilised to combat the use of opium more effectively.
What attitude was taken up in this matter may be apparent from the statement made at Shanghai by the Head of the Opium-regie Service at that time as member of the Interna- tional Commission on Opium, at the sitting of that commis- sion on 15th February 1909. The first paragraph of that statement reads.
"I. That the Dutch Government, convinced of the desira- bility of combatting the use of opium will never permit itself to be withheld from taking steps, from which in its opinion it can be expected that they will indeed lead to the gradual diminution of its use, by financial considerations."
V.
Partly as a result of the resolutions passed by that Inter- national Commission, various laws intended to combat the use of opium as much as possible, came out in Netherlands India in the year 1911.
The importation, the transportation, the preparation, the administering and the sale of cocaine, and eucaine, and substances which can be used as substitutes for morphine,
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for other than medicinal purposes was prohibited, and only permitted to qualified persons for medicinal purposes. With the exception of these, only those persons were al- lowed to be in possession of these substances, to whom they had been prescribed in a lawful manner as medicine.
The exportation was only permitted to those countries, where the importation was allowed.
Similar regulations were made in regard to raw or pre- pared opium, morphine, opium-preparations and substances, which contain opium or morphine intended for medicinal purposes.
In the intended complete revision of the laws relating to opium and other narcotics the definitions in the treaty will natural- ly be followed as much as possible. It will however, be some time before this revision is accomplished, as in connection therewith the new penal code, which has since been intro- duced, will have to be taken into account, from some provi- sions in which it will be necessary to diverge. To the delay in revising it must also be attributed that the Opium laws in Netherlands India are at present exceptionally complicated and have not yet been replaced by much simpler ones.
VI
Besides the laws governing opium, etc., for medical purposes, the following restrictions, were also brought into force in 1911:
1. A prohibition against the free distribution of opium, or the presentation of it as a prize at public festi- vities and popular games or on occasions when public processions are held.
2. A prohibition against the sale of chandu to children
below the age of 18 years.
3. A regulation whereby Europeans and those, assimilat- ed with Europeans, who have no personal permit, are prohibited from being in possession of chandu. The number of legal permits for Europeans at the end of 1921 was 9. On these permits 24.08 thail at the very outside was allowed to be bought.
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