CO129-486 - Public Offices - 1924 — Page 429

57726/24.

JOPY.

jr 3994/20/87)

TED

No.

FOR

British Delegation, 426

Hotel Metropole,

Gendre, witserland.

26th November, 1924.

My dear Waterlow,

The

1 wrote to you very laurriedly last night and only

had time for a few words about the question of the proposed Commission of Inquiry. You may rely on me to do my best

when the Americano bring forward the question of the use

of prepared opium in the Far Eastern Territories of the Powers.

It is not olear yet how or when the matter will be raised. body of proposals which the America Delegation have submitted to the Conference include two whio, are clearly outside the scope of

the Conference. The first is a proposal that the Contracting

Parties shall control the production and distribution of raw

opium so that there will be no surplus available for purposes

not strictly medical or scientific. The other is that the

Contracting Parties in whese Territories the use of prepared

opium is temporarily pemitted shall agree to reduce the import- ation of prepared opium for that purpose by ten per cent. sach

year so as to bring it to an end within a period of ten years.

The first proposal raises the question of the domestio consumption of opium in India and unless the Americans withdr SU

it, there will be a battle royal betwem Campbell and Jorter,

and the question of the competence of the Jonference to discuss

matters not specifically included in its Agenda will be raised. The decision on that point will have a bearing on the other

American proposal with regard to the use of prepared opium.

If the second proposal is brought up for discussion

then the course which the proceedings are likely to take will be as follows. The Netherlands Delegation will refuse absolutely

to take part in any discussion on the subject, and some of the

other Powers, if not all, whose Territories are affected will

sobe. (1807) m, 0.

probably/ 7