New-York tribune., 1913-07-24
Unique Measure by the Hague
Conference to Insure Ratifi-
cation of Convention.
PRESSURE TO BE EXERTED
Special Efforts to Win Austria's
Consent and World. Wide
Agreement Expected by
End of This Year.
fFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, July 23.-Dr. Hamilton
Wright, American delegate to the second
international opium conference at The
Hague, has returned from the Neither
lands enthusiastic over what was ac-
complished at the conference and conf
dent that before the end of the present
year all the world will have ratified the
convention Of the opium conference OF
1912, the provisions Of which call for in
ternational control OF traffic in opium
and other habit-forming drugs
While some nations have not signed
the agreement of 1912 and others have
declined for the moment to deposit rati-
fications of IT. the recently ended con-
ference al The Hague adopted a unique
measure to exert enough pressure upon
the governments still holding out 10
bring about ratification within a few
months. The conference adopted a reso-
luton calling on the Dutch government
10 make representations urging adoption
OF the opium convention on the out
standing countries through the Dutch
ministers in the various capitals.
AT the same time the resolution pro-
vides that the governments of the ma
tions already actually signatory TO the
convention shall instruct their own dip
| lomatic agents in the various capitals
to support the representations and argu-
ments Of the Dutch ministers. In this
unusual way it is hoped that those gov
ernments which have not yet seen their
way clear to ratification Of the conven-
tion will be brought around
Thirty-fve countries have signed the
convention and twenty-six Of these have
promised to ratify it, The countries
which have not signed the convention
are Bulgaria. Greece. Turkey Switzer-
land. Austria-Hungary, Norway, Swe-
den Rumania, Montenegro and Servia.
1t is understood that the reason for
| Turkey. Greece and the Balkan countries
falling 10 sign is the state of war which
exists in those countries. Switzerland has
said that her cooperation would be of
no value. as she has no traffic i'm drugs
Austria Hungary. Norway and Sweden
| have said that as the stipulations Of the
convention necessitates new legislation
they must temporarily withhold their
signatures.
on the attitude Of Austria a great deal
seems 10 depend. Austria so far declines
| TO adhere TO the convention. and as long
as this is 50. il appears, Germany will
not ratify the agreement. AS long as
Germany holds out Great Britain will not
| come into the fold. 1t IS believed. how
ever, that Austria will be induced 10
adopt the convention. She has said that
she could not do so because ii required
new legislation. It has been pointed out
TO her that she can ratify the convention
and pass new legislation afterward. Aus
tria assumes Importance in the matter on
account Of her large traffic In drugs from
Trieste
The Netherlands government expects
that all the nations which have already
agreed to the ratification OF the treaty
will have taken action by December 81
Before that date, II is expected, the most
important of the non-slgnatory powers
will also have adhered, and then Great
Britain and Germany will be in position
at once TO agree.
The government Of The Netherlands Is
10 call a conference OF all signatory and
adhering countries Immediately after De-
cember 81 to put the convention into
force.
Ii remains for the American Congress
to pass legislation which will make ef-
fectlye the things which the American
government agrees to in the convention.
Such legislation has passed the House.
but has never become law. The matter
will now be pushed II will also be neces-
sary for the Senate 10 ratify the conyen-
ton