The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-17

ress
On August 81 there appeared in the
columns of the New York Times the
following;
Special cable to the New York
Times. Pekin, Aug. 29.-Attention is
being devoted to the importation from
America and comment Ia being made
that, America, having gone dry, Is
sending to China a noxious drug which
Is responsible for the moral and physi-
cal ruin of millions of Chinese.
"A case of smuggling has just been
heard in the japanese Consular Court
at Shanghai which proves that the drug
csme from Philadelphia. A movement
Is under way to draw the attention OF
the Washington Government for laxity
in transshipment regulations"
Morphine Comes From Scotland.
The Japan Advertiser, Toxic. Tuesday.
August 8. 1919, is Just here with an
array Of editorial material and news
articles dealing with this subject. An
extract from Putnam Weale's article In
that issue is here reproduced:
TT would have been thought that a
trade so deadly in its effect on human
beings as medical science has proved it
to be would at least be controlled with
an iron hand. But so far from this
being the case the only hand in the
business appears to be the hidden hand.
cruel and corrupting indifference
being shown to the degradation which
the wholesale manufacture and exporta-
ton Of morphia from Edinburgh (Which
supplies nearly all the worlds market)
is bringing to very considerable sec
ton Of the Chinese people For while
It is a fact that the Japanese are the
main distributors 1t is also a fact that
the main manufacturers are British"
Quoting from an editorial of the same
issue invite attention to the follow
ing:
IF 1t Is the case that the declared
intentions of the British and Japanese
Governments to stop the Illicit drug
traffic in China are being frustrated by
the laxity OF the British postal regula-
tons II should be a simple matter to
expose the situation by questions in the
House of Commons. Exposure in such
a case would bring about speedy
, remedy
Recent information gives the ques-
ton a more hopeful aspect to which we
have referred. The export of the drug
from England has almost IL not entirely
ceased as the result Of the licensing
regulations of the British and Japanese
Governments. At present supplies are
| apparently being obtained from the
United States. and there is no reason to
doubt that as soon as this fact comes
to the notice of the American and Japa-
| nese Governments they will take action
similar to that which has already ended
the expectations from Edinburgh"
DepIores Tales of Intrigue.
Investigation would dlsprove many a
| wild tale of Japanese intrigue and per-
| fidy; these attributes are not by any
| means confined to these people, and
while there is no attempt to hold any
| quarter for the wrong doings of Japa-
nese any more than for any one else 1,
does seem that when we attempt to lay
| out programme and give 1t commercial
significance We should be more impartial
| and exercise greater discretion wher
| giving voice to slanderous tales of The
character we so often see emanatina
from the foreigners of Shanghai. When
responsible bodies as our Chambers o.
| Commerce in China engage in this We
| are persuaded to think they have
stepped down from their exalted position
| as ambassadors OF commerce and have
become political wranglers and are no,
| serving the best interests of the COM
mercial community which they repre-.
sent
OF what use is there in sending mis-
4 sions OF representative business men to
the Orient to proclaim the doctrine Of
good will and friendship for the peoples
who compose that realm when there
issues constantly from Shanghai an in.
cessant outpouring of unkind and un.
founded epithets upon the Intentions oil
one of their number. To the new conner
| in the Orient this takes on a magnifec
| Importance and while the resident is SC
used to such that II makes little If any
| impression upon him the new arriva
goes away filled to overlooking will
Oriental foreign table talk which wher
related in his home land helps to form
the unfavorable light in which SO many
| Americans have recently found pleasur.
in placing the Japanese.
Competition in business ought to b,
keen at the same time free from undue
preJudices. Personally view this Who'll,
subject from an impartial standpoint
It Is in this light of impartiality that
resent the character of assault which II
80 cases out Of 100 proves itself to b
wholly false, and my earnest plea {,
those who really have come to believ,
the tales of horror about the Japanes,
that they do little investigating To-
! themselves. Let this apply to stories o
Japanese cruelties in Corea, to thei
} Prussianizing all of Asia, to thei
, their plan of prostituting Chinese of
ficials, &C., and 1 dare say that a de
cided change in attitudes. opinions an
friendships would evidence itself
: MILTON B. McINrosH.
> "