The Washington herald., 1922-01-15

advisers. irrespective OF nationality.
One OF these three was Mrs. Hamil.
ton Wright. 1t thus became DOS
siole for her to attend the commit
tee In an Official capacity, although
rot as representative of her coun-
try.
Would Restrict Poppy Growing.
She took the position at the May
meeting that IL vital results In con-
trolling opium were to be effected,
the question must be met at its
source, and the cultivation Of the
pcfpy restricted to its medicinal
need. The proposition met with op-
position from the representative Of
the India Office, both at this first
| meeting and later in the assembly,
where largely through Mrs.
Wrights influence. il was carried.
Although this radical dealing with
the matter was not adopted, much
good work looking toward the con-
troll OF the traffic was done at
Geneva last year.
For one thing, an admirable uues-
tlonnaire to determine what nations
mad put the convention into effect
was sent out and an attempt was
made to ascertain the legitimate
need OF drugs in respect to nations.
IL was also suggested that a COM
m1ttee be sent to China to find ont
the truth about the revival Of pop
Ply cultivation.
Needs U. s. Cooperation,
This, OF course. is all to the good
out II is obvious without the CO.
operation of the United States the
work Of the league can never be
enective. As things now are the
United states cannot even give its
support to a champion Of the cause
So able and SO devoted as Mrs
Wright 1t is one Of the several
hampering situations in which we
md ourselves by our refusal to
take part in the league of nations.
so far as the control Of the opium
traffic Is concerned, we must do one
OF two things, either arrange for
enecttve cooperation with this COM
mlttee which has made so admir-
able a beginning under the league.
or III once suggest a substitute.
without an international focus no
results can be accomplished. We
must either accept the one in the
league or build up one without
fish.
Use of Drugs decrease.
There Is the alternative. of
course, OF abandoning a work in
which We have always been leaders
and which is Of such q vital matter
70 our own health and right living.
The opium traffic. 1t should not be
forgotten, does not concern China
alone, as the uniformed are often
inclined to believe. 1t concerns us
most intimately. The increase OF
the use of drugs in this country,
particularly among the young, 10
one OF the most alarming of the
exhibits Of degeneracy. We are
actually consuming greater quaint
ties than China herself.
This experience of Mrs. Hamilton
wright at Geneva is particularly
significant in considering the ques-
ton OF the possibilities In diplo-
macy Tor women. 1t will be noted
tnat she sat on an international
committee from first to last. The
1act that she had no Official back
ing from her own government
makes her influence there even
more remarkable. It is evident that
her knowledge and enthusiasm
were such that the international
group could not overlook her. That
is. her sheer fitness made her the
strongest anti-opium influence
working last year in the league OF
nations. 1t Is something for those
women who sigh for the diplomatic
field to remember!
League Open to Women.
While Mrs. Wright was obliged TO
do her work at Geneva last year
unomcially. there were several
women there in recognized official
capacities. As a matter of fact, the
league of nations is the only exist
ing governmental organization
which by its constitution is open
from top to bottom to women. This
wide open opportunity is due almost
entirely to the activities of a group
OF liberal-minded French women,
assisted by q few foreign women,