CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924 — Page 436

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As to the price of prepared opium, it was fond

(again with the exception of Formosa) that the raising

thereof had reduced consumption, so long as the illicit

trade was not stimulated by too great an increase of price.

The Committee found that all administrations had

endeavoured to prevent the use of opium by minors with

a view to ensuring that the next generation shall be az fer

as possible free from the vice. Among the measures taler

were mentioned: propagenda in the schools, prohibition of

adulasion of minors into smoking divans, and prohibition of

sale to or possession by minors.

III.

The smuggling question was exhaustively examined by

the Committee. It was found that a suppression of

snuggling was impossible ao lung as enormous quantities

of raw opium were produced in other territories in which the

lack of control allows the unhindered outflow of the contra-

band opium into most of the Far Eastern territories,

In the circumstances the Committee had to limit itself

to the consideration of measures for checking the illicit

trafe as far as possible. Mutual co-operation and direct

exchange of information regarding the illioit traffio,

seizures eto., between the heads of the opium services in

the different territories have been found to be of greet

value, and the Committee suggested that a recommendatian

might be made to the Governments concerned to instruct the

heads of their respective services to co-operate in this

manner,

and when it seems likely to be useful to arrange

for personal meetings.