The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-11
TRADE in OPIUM
SOON Will END
Representatives from Every
Nation to Take Formal
Action July l.
ENGLAND LOSES HEAVILY
United States, After Seven Years
Campaign, Has Accomplished
Desired End.
ENGLAND LOSES HEAVILY

I When representatives from every CIV
| ilized nation meet at The Hague July |.
ratihcations will be offered to an inter
national opium treaty. which Will def
niteIy mark the end of all traffic in
forms OF that drug prepared for smok-
ing.
At the instance Of the United States
government, all nations except one have
been Induced to stamp out traffic In
opium prepared for smoking, at a total
annual loss to these nations of s'o.Oooooo
in revenue. Great Britain. the heaviest
sufferer through the breaking up OF her
Indo-Chinese trade, which now has come
to an end, took a leading part In the
movement from the first. Peru Is the
only civilized nation which has failed SO
far to Join hands with the powers. She
may come into the fold when the powers
meet at The Hague In July,
Drug Is shut Out.
The powers agree TO suppress opium
smoking and positively to shut the drug
out OF their borders and TO prohibit Its
shipment or transshipment to or from
other nations. But In the case of NOR
phine. cocaine. and their derivatives,
shipment will be in accordance with the
drug laws of each nation.
II has taken the United States seven
years-since the fall OF 1e0S-to brins
about this much-desired end, and DR..
Hamilton Wright, who has become
known by the unofficial title of opium
expert of the State Department" is the
man who has fought the fight through
and planned each campaign.
One of the final problems offered for
solution may cost Great Britain S6,Ooo-
900. This involves Indian opium worth
that amount which now is in storage at
Shanghai, and upon which Chinese bank
ers have advanced about 100000. The
1ndo- Chinese opium traffic was discon-
tinued through an agreement between the
British and Chinese governments. by
which the traffic was to be reduced at
the rate OF 10 per cent per annum from
the date of the agreement, January l.
1905
The Chinese government was urged
first to do this by American missionaries.
and was encouraged by the example of
the United States In bringing to an end
the opium traffic in the Philippines. The
market for Indian opium In China as
well as native opium has been now
closed.
There remains, therefore, the DISPOSE
ton OF the opium stocks at Shanghai.
To save banking houses from failure.
the British government probably will
have to adopt the measures followed In.
bringing the slave traffic to an end:
appropriate sufficient money to buy out
these stocks.
II is estimted the use OF opium re-
suited in an annual loss to the Chinese
people of more than $5O0O0. co0.
The United States has been engaged
in the fight against opium since lS2
Since the early days, in conformity
with a policy intended to aid Oriental
natiouS in STAINING ont the usa NJ the
drug. in the various treaties negotiated
with China. Japan. Korea. and Siam,
American citizens were absolutely for
hidden to engage in the opium trade,
except In conformity with the laws of
those countries.
Though taking the lead in the inter-
national movement, the United States
has been peculiarly dilatory in supple
menting with the necessary legislation
the international convention. No opium
legislation has been passed since 1909.
when the drug was prohibited, except
when imported for medicinal purposes.
Other nations already have passed their
internal laws. Representative Harrison
OF New York has taken an active
part in framing, with DIR. Wright, legis-
lation OF a drastic nature, which will
supplement both the exclusion act and |
the treaty about to be ratified at The |
Hague. These bills have been agreed |
to by the legitimate drug interests, |
and are not expected to meet open op-
position. They now are before the Ways |
and Means Committee Of the House and \
viii be reported out at this session. |
While they may pass the House before |
adjournment, 1t is extremely doubtful IL
hey can be put through the Senate be-
tore the regular session.