Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-09
Opium Traffic Still
Menace to the World
BY Frederic J. Haskin

| PUBIC burning OF 1,ZUO cneStS OF OPIUM
in Shanghai few days ago does not
indicate that the Chinese opium question
is finally settled, either for China or 10
the world 1t does signify that China i
sincere in her protestations against tn
| opium cYil and that the sentiment of thr
people in the matter of drugs is becoming
strong enough toforcc corrupt officialdon
To recognize its wishes.
China, whose life and progress have 81
long been hampcred by the scarlet poppy
is realizing the seriousness of the nationa
vice and has risen in rebellion against 6
governemnt so willing TO betray its
people for sum of money For centuries
the Chinese people have struggled against
the opium evil, first against the institution
OF opium smoking, and later when the
vice had spread across the empire, against
It's supremacy.
| To the syubol-loving Chinese the
ceremoniois burning of the opium, which
| so nearly caused their government 10
1eak international pledges of faith, if
a sign that the national honor remains
| untarnished and that mighty stumbling
| block has been removed from their path.
| Their view Of The Importance of the
| destroyed opivum is not exaggerated
| STORY 10 YEARS OLD.
The story OF the 300 chests of opium
| did not start when the drug suddenly
| appeared in the hands Of the Chinese
| government last summer II Is easily
| trnced back ten years 10 tho day when
Great Britain agreed To decrease gradually
the vast amount of opium being imported
into China from the Indian colonies,
until at the end of ten years no more
Indian opium would be marketed IN
T. Al
coming The national VICE, China promised
To cease growing the poppy
So important did China consider II that
her part of the bargain be kept that heavy
penalties we're attached 70 the growing
of the poppy plant Indeed, during the
presidency Of Yuan ghai Kai an offender
was bcheadci for this breach Of national
faith So fairly did China keep to the
terms that England shortened the ten
years set for Graduating the importation
ct opium 10 seven yesrs, 10 the extreme
gratitude Of the Chinese people During
tins time China not only was rlddtng her
self Of the opium vicc, but was gaining the
respect Of other nations who realized the
enormous task Of breaking up a nation
wide drug habit
Unfortunately, q great amount Of
opium 200 chests remained IN Shang-
hsi after the agreement term expired
This stock. valued at Si4 900 900. was
the property Of group of Jewish Tner-
chants under British jurisdiction. II is
said that hrihe Of several million dollars
was offered by these merchants 10 the
government for longer time to sell ont
their stock. but this offer the government
refused.
OPIUM STORED AWAY.
For three or four years this opium was
kept stored away. Then the merchants
took advantage Of the worlds distraction
IN war, and political chaos in China, in
tensihed by corrupt government officials.
To these easily influenced politicians the
opium was offered, and they, thinking Il
could be sold At great profit, accepted II.
As soon as the deal became known,
protests from all parts Of the country were
sent 10 the government. which ignored
them and concluded the contract. When
word reached the United States and Great
britain, notes from them also were sent |
asking that the Chinese government re- /
.ract At first the government remained |
firm In its decision, stating that the drug /
VAS TO be used for medicine, an explana-
lion which was everywhere discounted as
/ hinsv excuse TO cover the mercenarv
Intentions of the government officials.
But later. protests OF the United States
treat Britain and DR. " llington koo. !
he Chinese Ambassador 70 the United |
States, added 70 the increasing volume
# the popular CRY that the opium should
DC destroyed, finally forced the govern
nent 70 issue mandate that the chests
i opium. be burned at a loss Of SI4, 900 600
o itself. The event was celebrated with
,arades and three day holiday, while
he troublesome opium was examined
" reliable witnesses TO avoid trickery
md publicly burned IN great furnaces.
China as a nation has suffered much
rom the opium evil, but the effects OF
he drug have been and still are felt IN ever
lation. The United States government 5
protest against the Shanghai opium deal
,ad apparently little connection with
he hfe OF the American people, yet that
anne opium spreading throughout China
md TO other nearby countries would have
erlously affected the soldiers Of our army.
IS It Is, the lack OF domestic legislation
Il countries such as Great Britain, France
nd Russia, restricting the sale and use
( drugs, is having disastrous effects upon
he armies in Europe and Asia In
rance and England, in TicntSi and
lad vostok, wherever troops are gathered
he menace has arisen.
In cur own country there is the Harrison
.ct to protect the people Of the United
tates from the danger of the drug habit.
I is significant fact that the Harrison
.ct lacks power because of concessions
cmandcd and carried by drug interests
4 this country. The late DR. Hamilton
Wright, who Was the leading spirit in the
plum campaign both at home and abroad |
nd who represented the United States
{ the various conferences, urged that
be bills be passed ON the grounds that
ny bill WAS better than no legislation
t all, and that the art could later bc
mendod THIS position was also taken
y Congress and the bill became law.
Tow an amendment TO make drug rest ric-
ions more stringent IS before Congress
nd, it IS generally believed, viii soon be
assed
Domestic legislation against tho use
( opium in the United States IS due 10
he ratification ot the Hague Convention |
( 1912. The last of number of intert
ational conferences was held at the
lague in 1914, Just n month before war
roke out In the excitement of war,
nti-drug ISSUES were forgotten, and only
ve nations ratified the agreement to
lppreas opium traffic in their respective
tnds by means Of law The United
tates was one Of the five countries ia
IL