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TRANSLATION OF HIS MAJESTY'S SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
ON 21st SEPTEMBER 1906, ON THE CFIUM QUESTION.
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There romains you ane thor matter which has boon cccupying Cur thoughts for a long time past, it is that of opium, It is unquestionable the the drug hás cvil offocts
upon its consumers; and casta dogradation upon ovory country whore the inhabitants are largely addicted to the habit of opium smoking. Thore is no roagon to doubt that the most parnost dosire of noarly every country in the world is to
Fut un- suppress this noxious habit among its population, fortunatoly ther) are many obstacles in the way of the attain- mont of this object. Briefly speaking thero is the consi- dorable skrinkago in the Status' Ruvunues to be faced, thon thoro is the difficulty of compolling poople already addictod te tho ugo of the drug to throw off the habit at once of their *own will. Evon prohibited, it is not to be expected that such porsons will rofrain from sooking surreptitious moans to gratify their craving for opium, and thereforo if the Gcvorn-
mont, unable to execute measures theroby surreptitious traffic and consumption of the drug can be effectively prevented, wore to attempt the suppression of the opium habit, it would only bo a considerable loss of rovopuo to the Stato without any
It is this great adoquato realisation of its good intentions. hindrance to the propor attainmunt of their object that has provontod Governments from immediately suppressing the vico. Notwithstanding those great obstacles which Wo soo standing in Cur way, it is nevertheless Our boundon duty not to no... glect our poople and allow thom te bocomo mero and moro do-
Wo have caruful- moralisud by indulgence in this nexious drug. 17 considered the subject and find that ways of carrying out
and to have fur groat doairo are not altogether wanting; accordingly decided upon executing sponial measures in the ad- ministration of tho pium Lonopoly whoroby the spread of the opium habit among our poopl, shall becoma gradually 1 ssoned until it shall bã ontirely supprosood,
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