CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924 — Page 592

SECRET

Draft Memorandum for Cabinet,

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581

Internation. 1 Opium Conference, November, 1924

1. In November next, in pursuance of a Resolution umaniously adopted by the Assembly of the Les¿me of Nations at its meeting last September, an International Conference will be held at veneva, under the auspices of the Leagus, to omsider what measures can be taken for giving affect to Chapter II of the International Opium Convention which provides for the "gradual and effective suppression" of the use of opium for smokin. The Conference will consist of representatives of those tates in whose territories the practice of opit smoking still continues, and of Chin...

Opium smoking is permitted under regulation in several British possessions, more especially in Hon Hong, traits settlements, and the xalay states, orth Borneo, Sarawak, and Burmah, and His Majesty's Govern. ment have accepted the invitation of the Council of the League to be represented at the Conference. The other States concerned are France (in respect of Indo China), the detherlands (in respect of the Dutch East Indies), Portugal (in respect of Macao), Sim and Japan (in respect of Formose and the leased territory of Kwontung).

The Conference is the outcome of the proceedings at the meeting of the Opium dvisory Committee of the League of Nations in Aril, 1923, in which a delegation from the United States Government took part-

and though the United States Government will not be themselves represented at the Conference sa opiam

smoking has been officially prohibited in the Philippine (their only territories in the Far East) it is known

that they take a very lively interest in it.

*

2. The Opium Advis ry Committee at its meeting last year adopted, on the motion of the British Representative, the Fesolution of which a cop is

annexed.

That Resolution embodies certain su gestions,

which were put forward after consultation betwem tha

Home Office and Colonial Office, s to the measures

that might be taken into consideration by the

proposed/

hey will be represented t a subsequent and larger Conference which has also been summoned by the Lesque for November next, to consider the question of the 11 itation of the manufacture of morphine, heroin, and cossine and the production of raw oplum and the obsa leaf from which the drags are obtained.

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