CO129-486 - Public Offices - 1924 — Page 271

268

+2.

In this connection, the Government would point

out that any such limitation would inevitably involve a rise in prices on the lawful, no less than on the illicit market, with the result of restricting the use of marcotics for modical purposes.

Il, however, it is proposed to consider the

possibility of limiting prode tion end manufacture, the Goverment ventures to suggest that attention should first be directed to coca, and that it might afterwards be considered whether the proposed measures would also be applicable to opium

This appears to be the best procedure because limitation would be less difficult in the case of coca than in the case of oplum, inasmuch as the poppy can be cultivated in ell climates, and is actually cultivated in a number of countries in Coca, on the other hand, which effectual control is impossible.

is only produced in a few areas.

Although it cannot be definitely laid down that

the production of coca would be quite impossible in any non-tropical country, there is no doubt that coea connot be produced in every

climate.

Those countries, however, whose climate is not definitely unfavourable to the cultivation of coca, but which do not at present cultivate it, should undertake not to do so in the future.

The Royal Government is of opinion that it would

be well to consider in the first place whether the bost means of attaining the object in view would not be to establish a syndicate under effective control.

Should any serious objection be raised to this

Government thinks that the limitation

suggestion, the Netherlands of the production of the coca leaf should be considered; for it is obvious that restrictive measuros would be more effactual if direct- ed against row materials of large bulk and sagll value than against manufactured products of small hulk and large value, which are often preduced by complicated processes.