New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-30
"a NATIONS Join
IN FIGHT ON OPIUM
Convention at The Hague This
Week to Take Steps to End
Traffic in Drug.
TURKEY AND PERU NOT IN
But Turks Are Expected to
Yield-American Anti Opium
Law Likely to Have Good
Effect on Conference.

Washington. June 29.-With the purpose
OF taking the last step necessary to crush
out the international traffic in smoking
opium, cocaine and other noxious ana
habit forming drugs, representatives OF
forty-four nations will gather at the
Hague next Tuesday 10 continue the IN
ternatOnal conference which adjourned
in that capital on January .. 1912. The
purpose of the present gathering is to
ascertain whether a sufficient number Of
powers will Join in ratifying the interna-
tional convention looking to the suppress
sion of the opium traffic drafted by that
conference, to insure its successful OPP
Grafton.
Opium has long been a cause of serious
international conflict. China and Great
Britain having gone to war on the subject
i'm 1910. when the opium war" finally re-
suited in the cession of Hong Kong 10
Great Britain. The recent movement Tor
the suppression OF the trade in habit
forming drugs is American I'm origin. BE
ginning In 1906 a systematic effort 10 Sc
cure this result by international acton
the state Department succeeded I'm IN"
creation Of the international commission
which net I'm Shanghai in 1899 and paved
the way for the more official gathering OF
delegates at The Hague I'm December, 1911.
This conference, after two months hard
work. agreed upon the form II general
convention. which, broadly speaking, was
calculated TO put an end TO international
dealing I'm harmful drugs
There were twelve powers party TO this
Observation-Disclosures. China, France, Ger
many Great Britain. Italy. Japan. The
Netherlands. Portugal. Russia. Slam ami
Persia.
II was pointed out that II would be
useless for these countries. the largest
producers and users. TO agree TO radical
measures for the international control OF
habit drugs so long as it was open TO the
citizens OF states not represented AT the
conference to continue or take up the
production and traffic Therefore, the
congress adjourned on January q. lsl2'
with the understanding that the thirty
four governments Of Europe and America
which had not participated should be IT.
yited 10 join I'm the ratification OF the
convention II this could not be accom-
plished by December 81. 1912. another con-
ference was to follow at The Hague 10
provide for the ratification OF the conveh-
ton This date was subsequently post
poned until July I. 1913.
In the mean time the government oil
The Netherlands and the United States
government have been earnestly address
ing themselves TO the task or securing
the adherence Of the outside powers
Int
and peru-ar. now holding out. ~
Turkish opium IS OF the highest grade
and used altogether Tor medlclnaI pul
poses IL * practically certain that VI
KEY will adhere 10 the convention wiz
II can loo shown that this Industry Woulu
not hc injured by the treaty. Peru ma
been reluctant 10 join because or the Sc
rious lcss that would result from tne
destruction of her present pTouldui'
trade en- cocoa. from which cocaine j.
No doubt ia entertained at the state
Department of the ultimate approval OF
tho convention. though IL Is adtnlt'e,,,
that some effort may be made 10 dIheHu
n I'm certain respects. The next strI
then viii be for the various goVerhmehls
10 deposit at The Hague formal rathca-
tioHe ,.i
Tho American delegates are LLOYD
Bryce American Minister 10 Inc Ne'hei
lands. Dr. Hamilton Wright, who haS
the state Department for "A number 81
wears and Dr. Gerritt J. kollen,, oil
Mtchigan. president emeritus or HOP,
college Gerald SeldomridSe. or me
State Department. IL acting as secretary
The American delegation has beer
greatly embarrassed in its presentation
OF III. case by the failure or congress l,
heed reDpated expensive Appeals TOT Wv
.uqrtmcnt of legislation to put th'
United states on "A footing with otnei
unliors iu the international regulation
of the opium traihc.
Last week however the House passed
ID .u. introduced boy Representative iiat
rison. OF New York 10 impose n prohlo'
hive internal revenue tax on tho manu-
tacture In this country OF smOklns
opium. a measure made necessary nN tl'
threatened development OF that INDUSTRY
on the Pacific Coast, where p0pples sIoN
I,vuriantiv. The State Department
homes To see the measure passed by tn'
senate and become law Immediately
for the moral effect Of the action upoi