Evening star., 1909-03-15
Countries Recommended to REX
anime Their Systems of Regula-
tion of the Drug.

Speclai taDiegfam 10 Tue SUIT.
SHANGHAI. March 15.-The interna-
tional opium commission has finished It's
labors. The following is precis OF the
resolutions adopted:
l. The commission recognizes the un-
swerving sincerity of the government of
China in its efforts to eradicate the pro-
duction and consumption or opium
Throughout the empire, the increasing
body of public opinion among the chi
nese by whom these efforts are supported
and the real, though unequal. progress
already made in task of the greatest
magnitude.
2 The commission finds that the un-
restricted manufacture. sale and dlstrl-
button Of morphine already constitute
grave danger, and that the morphine
habit shows signs of spreading: and 1t
desires to urge strongly upon all gov
ernments the high Importance of taking
drastic measures to control the manu-
facture. sale and distribution of tins
drug and OF otaer noXlous derivatives
of opium.
:; The commission. deeming investi-
ga tion from the scientific standpoint OF
anti-opium remedies and of the properties
and effects of opium and its derivatives
to be of the highest Importance. desires
that each delegation shall recommend
this branch of the subject to Its own
government for such action as it may
think necessary.
L. The commission finds that, mas
much each government has strict
laws devised to prevent the smuggling
of opium and its derivatives, all coun-
tries should adopt rea sonable mea sures
To prevent at the ports of departure the
shipment of any opium, or its alkaloIds,
derivatives or preparations. to any coun-
try which prohibits their entry.
>. The commission recommends. in
view of the action taken by the Chinese
and other governments to suppress
opium smoking, that each delegation
move its own government to take meas
ures for the gradual suppression OF
opium smoking in its own territories and
possessions. with due regard to the vary
ing circumstances Of each country con-
cerned.
Matter for Prohibition.
6. The commission finds that the use
of opium in any form, otherwise than
for medical purposes, is held in nearly
every country to be a matter for pro
hibition or careful regulation. 1t recog
niZeS wide variations between the con
ditions prevailing in different countries.
but would urge upon the different gov
ernmentS concerned the desira bility Of a
re-eXamination OF their systems OF regu-
lation III the light of the experience of
other countries.
:. The commission strongly urges all
governments possessing concessions or set
Elements in China, who have not yet taken
effective action toward the closing of
opium divans in the said concessions and
settlements, to take steps to that end as
soon as possible on the lines already
adopted by several governments.
s. The commission strongly recommends
the respective governments to enter into
negotiations with the Chinese government
to insure the adoption OF effective and
prompt measures in foreign concessions
and settlements in China to prohibit the
trade in and the manufacture of anti
opium medicines containing opium or its
derivatives.
3. The commission recommends each
government to apply it's pharmacy laws
TO its subjects in the consular districts,
concessions and settlements in China.
By Whom Submitted.
The first three resolutions were submit
ted by the British delegation: the fourth
and ninth by the Americans; the fifth
and sixth by the British and Americans
conformity, and the seventh and eighth by
the Chinese after an amendment by the
French. A resolution proposed by the
British delegation expressing the regret of
the commission at Chiua'S inability to
produce trustworthy statistical evidence
withdrawn, the Chinese delegation
undertaking TO bring to Me notice of its
government this expression of dissatisfac
ton.
Another resolution submitted by the
Chinese, asking that in recognition of the
efforts which China was making, the dele
gates should urge their government to
promise their cooperation and announce
their readiness to reduce the expectation
of opium to China pari passu with the
duction of the cultivation of the poppy in
China. was withdrawn.
China will. presumably. at an early
date, approach the British government
with a view to the revision of the exist
Ing agreement regarding the reduction OF
the export of opium from India, and will
endeavor TO have the reduction increased,
with special reference to the export of
opium from India to China. China hay
ing by the terms of the agreement a
right to station official in Calcutta to
report upon the opium reduction. pre-
sumably the government of India will
now require right to delegate officers
to inspect the actual condition of the
lation of poppy cultivation in China