Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-03-16
'OPEN TRAFFIC IN
OPIUM REPORTED
BUSINESS FOSTERED BY JAPA.
NESE AND MILITARY ATTHOR-
tiles IN CHINA

cOnnived at by the military authori-
ties who are held, SO to speak, under
Japan's thumb, according to the re-
port of number of missionaries in
answer to a QUESTIONABLE sent out
by the Interchurch world movement,
which is attempting a religious, eco
nomic, and social survey Of the world.
These missionaries report tina. in
SPITE of the alleged abolition If the
drug, almost wholly brought about
by their work, great quantities Of
opium are being struggled into China,
both the raw and the manufactured
product. some through the seaports,
some overland, often by caravan
routes, and a great deal by means of
the postal service which Japan has
established in all the principal cities
of China. AS Japan will not permit
examination of her parcel post serv-
ice by international postal authori-
ties, it is an easy matter, they say.
Ito ship any amount of drugs and
their accessories practically to any
section of the country.
Hypodermic syringes are sold at
such low prices and SO openly by the
Japanese that anyone who wishes
may purchase them, and also NOR
phia, which the Japanese are urging
upon the Chinese people; telling
them that it is an antidote for opium
and will help free them from the
habit. the missionaries charge.
Korea is said to export large guam
titles Of the drug into China, and
opium in Korea is practically Jap
anese government monopoly. The
Edinburgh Anti-Opium Society is
quoted as publishing the uncontro-
verified statement that in one year
Japan furnished Is tons of this drug
to the Chinese people. A Korean
|opium ordinance is said to provide
that il the opium brought in by the
farmers-there are hundreds of
opium poppy fields in Korea-does
not contain the standard amount of
morphia it shall be destroyed with
out payment. Enforcement of the
regulations is entrusted in manJ
cases, 1t is said, to drug men and
police. chief offenders in the rast.
It is reported, too, that opium manu-
featured in the United States is being
exported into China, the stringent
laws restricting the sale Of narcotics
in America not preventing manufac-
ture and export. One missionary in
Shanghai writes that once again the
opium peril is being faced in China.
and that the Missionaries are doing
what they can ito stem the slowly
advancing tide of intemperance, now
largely fostered from Japan, but
soon. we are told. to obtain recn-
forcement from America"
One missionary writes:
"An obstacle that stands out most
prominently just now, since it is just
now being again brought to our at
tention, is the planting of opium
throughout the whole region. Last
year the opium was widely planted,
though theoretically it was forbidden.
In a few places. where more pub
licity could be given to the ts.ct. the
fields were destroyed (but in many
cases after the crop HAD been partly
harvested) and by the reports one
would think the government was op
posed.
"But this year the planting is done
openly. Seed can be obtained
through the officials and planting is
encouraged. In places. under nor
then rule people are urged to plant,
but are not compelled to do so. In
places under the southern rule people
are practically compelled to plant, so
that the government can get the re-
sulting tax. 1t is against the rule OF
the church for member to plant or |
use opium. Some of the members |
are courageously refusing TO have |
anything to do with it, but many OF
them, with no ready money to buy
the high-priced necessities of life ana
seeing their neighbors take this op'
portunity of getting in ready money,
have yielded to the temptation and
have let the monetary gain blind
them to the great wrong they are
doing
This planting of opium not only
weakens the moral fibre of the ma
ton and brings about again the great
scourge of opium smoking. but also
keeps people from the churches and
children from the schools. For an
opium crop is most exacting on ones
time, keeping one busy from dawn
till dark, and also requires the help
of most of the family, too"
From Shanghai another writes:
Opium is again coming into use
hAty IL