Evening star., 1923-10-10
us. WAR ON OPIUM
SUCCESS IN GENEVA
League Committee Favors
Restricting Poppies to
Medical Needs.

Efforts of the American deiega-
ton to the sessions Of the opium ad-
visory committee of the league or
nations at Geneva recently were
crowned with success when the COM
nittee accepted the American-in-
spired resolution advocating restric-
ton of the production of opium pop
pies to the needs of medicine and
science.
This was the message brought back
to Washington by Mrs. Hamilton
Wright, assessor OF the opium ad-
visory committee, who gave brief
statement OF activities at Geneva to
n representative of The Star today.
She arrived in New York Saturday
night on the AquItania.
Americas Mission Enlarged.
"America's mission now she said,
ais to foster interest and promulgate
information relative TO the drug
situation, so that when the confer
enceS next July are ready to carry
out the intentions of the committee
as outlined in the resolution mem
toned America may be prepared To
cope with some of the most brilliant
intellects of the old world on this
subject
Corporation of Persia and Turkey
in warning against narcotics ana IN
seeking limitation Of opium poppy
production . is the first objective OF
the American delegation. Mrs. wright
stated. With the cooperation or
these two ccnters of poppy growing
obtained, the pathway for obtaining
similar corporation from India
would be smooth, in her opinion, she
said.
Solution in Suppression.
ssThe American people," Mrs Wright
said, must realize that the only basic
solution of the problem, which Is
facing every city government In the
United States today In suppressins
the sale Of narcotics and otner aruss.
is by checking the growth OF the
poppy and cocoa plant at Its source.
This can only be done by interna-
tional action.
The people Of the United States,
who are struggling to check the ever
increasing menace OF this evil. should
realize that by urging the United
States government to back this move
ment. they are saving their own COM
munities: in the first place. by in
directly. lowering their civic taxes to
the extent which appropriations are
now. necessary all over the country
for the maintenance of narcotic
squads OF the various police depart
MENUS III llo StCOIu pItCc, DS IL Ic-
duCtion in the care and RELIEF of the
addttS and incompetents now neces-
sary with their resulting economic
loss to the community which is now
subtly creeping throughout the coun-
try. This is an economic as we'll as
Il moral problem and as such must be
handled by the federal government"
Attended All Geneva Sessions.
Mrs. Wright attended all the ses-
sionS of the assembly at Geneva, with
the other American delegates-Bishop
Brent. former Surgeon General Blue
and Representative Porter. She was
recently reappointed assessor to the
opium advisory committee OF the
league of nations by the council of
the league. She is the daughter of
the late Senator William Drew Wash
burn and the widow Of Hamilton
Wright internationally known as n
leader in the anti-narcotic movement.
Regarding activities at the Geneva
conference she stated that the Amer
lean delegation was n tentative repro
sentation to the meeting of the opium
advisory committee. Shortly after
the decision to send this representa-
tion to the meeting in Geneva, Repre-
sentative Porter, leauer of the dele
cation. laid down certain principles
upon whose acceptance the particiDa-
The contention of this government,
Mrs. Wright said, was that the drug
question can be checked only at its
source-Turkey. Persia or India.
Relative to the foreign situation
Mrs. Wright said:
THE Indian situation is a very deli
cate one. but granting that the eating
of opium in that country is consider
ed Legitimate practice--it must he
recognized, IL the opinion of the
natives themselves is to be given
credence. that the use has also given
rise to an abuse-to remedy which
the convention was particularly
framed Therefore il must be asked
why should India alone of ali nations
under the authority of the convention
have the unique privilege of using or
abusing opium as she herself sect fit?
Importance of Cooperation.
The Importance Of the cooperation
Of these two great opium producing
countries has been repeatedly pointed
out. Turkeys incorporation of The
Hague convention in the treaty Of
Lausanne IS of great moment and
equally significant was the part
played by Persia at the recent meet
ing OF the assembly. The Persian
delegate. Prince Arfaed- Dowleh, ex-
pressed on the part Of his government
the desire to join with the other gov
ernmcnts in devisins practical pro-
gram in order TO put into operation
the principles embodied In the Amer
lean recommendations.
AS he justly said Of the produc-
tion of opium is to be eliminated or
restricted to medicinal requireme II t.;
it must be replaced by some other
crop in districts where the peasants
are dependent for their livelihood on
the poppy product. 1t Is obviously Il
task of great magnitude which calls
Tor careful examination and "a prac-
tical scheme Of substitution. But so
far as Persia is concerned she has eX-
pressed herself as ready to undertake.
such an investigation and is ready
to withdraw her reservations in re
gard to Article Ill Of the Hague con-
vention as soon as she can be given
n satisfactory constructive scheme
providing ii substitute for the cult
walton of opium.
"Persia's position is admirable and
along such lines as sketched by her
lies the only practicable and ultimate
solution Of the problem. AS the Per
sian with very definite interests ut
stake pointed out, though Il difficult
it is not an impossible task. 1t is
for the purpose of working out some
such program of readjustment and
substitution that the assembly has
summoned the nations interested to
meet in conference"