Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-04


British government. and the trade con-
tinted, in spite of persistents appeals
IRON China for Its discontinuanee. III
1871. British Parliament Resolved
that the Indo-Chinese opium trade is
morally indefensible, but did nothing
to stop it, fysaa
1903. Opium monopoly voted. on See
ond reading, in Philippine Government
but defeated by appeal of American
missionaries to President. Roosevelt
through. international Reform Bureau
Opium Commission. consisting of Ma.
jor Carter u. S. A.. DIR. jose Albert
and Bishop G. II. Brent, sent ont 10
investigate opium restriction in other
Asiatic countries. sf
1905. Opium prohibition enacted by
u. S. Congress for, the Philippines, to
take effect March /. 1908.
1906. May 30, British Parliament on
motion of Mr.. 4. G. Taylor5sind influ-
enced by anti-opium action of Il. s..
experimenting British santiopiun agi-
tation III Great Britain, New Zealand.
Australia and South Africa, unani-
mously reauested the Government To
bring the Indo-Chinese opium trade To
"a speedy close" Chinese Govern
ment and people at once undertook To
suppress the evil.
1907. British and Chinese Govern
ments agreed to reduction Of native.
traffic and imports pari s5s.ssu during
ten years. international Reform7DBu-
feau appointed Rev. e. w. Thwing.
oriental Secretary, chiefly to aid Chi
ma in opium suppression. -.
1909. On suggestion of Bishop Brent,
President Roosevelt assembled al, In
tefnational Opium Commission at
Shanghai to investigate opium all over
the world, as a basis for cooperation
against the evil The nations repre
scented We're; Great Britain, the United
States. China, Japan. Siam, Persia,
France, Germany, Russia, Austria
Hungary, Italy, Portugal, the Neither
lands. This Commission met in Sbane-
hal and united on important DECLARE
lions. Its discussions read like those
of jury of twelve nations. with Great
Britain on trial for its crime against
China. The two must important pro-
posals were defeated by a majority of
one on the opium side i'm the Ave Brit
ish delegates. who 50 refused to Join
in a declaration to the world that
opium is Il drug that should be used
only as a medicine, and they also re-
fused TO agree to what has been con-
ceded in 1911, that no country shall en-
port opium 70 a country that prohi-
bits it, Bishop c. IL. Brent. presided
and DR.. Hamilton Wright was floor
leader. Both acquitted themselves so
well that they are to represent the
United States again at the Hague In
the Conference described below.
eaqaaa in inf "a
any event In anti-opimn chronology
was the action of tire Worlds confer
enee of Missions IN Edinburg. in juno.
1910, which petitioned the British Gov
eminent to leave China entirely free
with regard to the importation of
opium. and also called British people
TO celebrate the 50th Anniversary of
opium treaty, Oct. "a. by day of fast
ing and prayer: which was done with
marked effect both in China and
throughout the British Empire.
l9ll President Taft called. not n
Commission this time to investigate
but an International Conference that
can make International law, subject 10
ratification of the Powers represented.
the object of which stated in the call.
is the suppression of the opium evil
which would authorize the conference
to enact International prohibition of
opium, to which due exception would
be made for It's guarded medicinal use.
Secretary of State r. II. Knox, like
his predecessors Secretary John Hay
and Secretary Elilfu Root, has taken Il
deep interest in anti opium movement.
On May S, 1911 Anglo-Chinese opium
agreement male which allows China to
suppress the foreign opium traffic be-
fore 1907, in provinces where it sup
presses the native traffic.