Evening star., 1911-06-03

therefore that England might profit by
the lesson China has given her and un-
dertake similar means OF suppressing the
curse within her own dominions.
There Is to be an international confer.
ence at The Hague TO consider this ques-
tion. and to secure uniform laws and
regulations for the suppression OF the
traffic throughout the world. II was
called at the suggestion of the United
States, and was to have met this month.
but was postponed another year with
the hope of securing the attendance oil
delegates from Portugal, which has not
participated in the negotiations because
Of the recent overthrow of the monarchy
and the establishment of a republic. II
is especially important that Portugal
should become party to the suppression
movement because Macao. its little colony
near Hongkong. is free port and does
an enormous Illicit business with China
India is not the only country that SUI.
fers a loss Of revenue. China sacrincee
a year. which have hitherto been collect
ed on imports OF opium. But there has
been no hesitation in making the sacri-
fee Indeed, IL has never been taken
into consideration.
Text Of New Treaty.
The text OF the new opium treaty
which was signed May at Peking by
Sir John Jordan and the foreign office.
reads as follows:
The British government. recognizing
the sincerity of the Chinese government
} and its pronounced success in diminishing
the production of opium in China during
the last three years. agrees to continue
the ARRANGEMENT made in 1907 for the un.
expired period of seven years under the
following conditions:
article l. China shall diminish annu.
ally during the next seven years the pro-
duction of native opium in the same pro-
portion by which the annual report from
India is diminished.
.rArticle 2 China having adopted
! rigorous policy for prohibiting the produc.
tion transport and smoking OF native
opium, the British government agrees
that the export of opium from India shall
cease in less than seven years II PROOF 10
given that the production of native opium
has completely ceased.
Article 3. The British government
agrees that Indian opium shall not os
conveyed to any province or CHINA which
has effectively suppressed the cultivation
and import Of native opium. 1t Is under.
stood, however that the closing OF the
ports OF Canton and Shanghai to the I'm.
port of Indian opium shall only take ef.
feet as final step for the completion o1
the above measure
article 4 During the period OF the
agreement the British government is per.
| mitted to obtain continuous evidence OF
the diminution OF cultivation by local
inquiries conducted by British officials.
cial to India to watch the opium sales
and the packing Of opium. but without
any power of interference.
article 6. The British government con-
sents to the increase OF the present duty
| of 800 taels per chest. the increase tax.
| ing effect simultaneously with the impo.
sition Of an equivalent excise tax on ma
tive opium.
Article 4. So long as the additional ar.
| ticle of the Chifu agreement is in force
| China will withdraw all restrictions now
| placed on the wholesale list In India9
| opium in the provinces.
The foregoing article shall not deros
gate from the force OF laws published. OF
hereafter to be published. by China ID
| suppress the smoking of opium and te
regulate the retail trade.
Article s. During 1911 the Indian gov
| eminent will issue export permits fol
30.6GO chests, progressively reducing the
number until the extinction Of the export
trade in 1917. Each chest so certificatee
may be imported into any treaty port ir
China.
Article 8. This agreement may be re-
vfsed al any time by mutual consent.
ARTICLE 10. The agreement comes inte
force on the date on which il is signed"