Evening star., 1924-12-12
INTERVIEWS
IN OPIUM |MPASSE
Council Suggests That Con-
ferees From Both ParIeys
Hold Joint Session.
Ry the Associated Press.

BY the Associat ted Press.
ROME, December 1.-THE League
of Nations council, answering an ap-
peal from from President Zahle of
the opium conference for aid in solv-
ing the difficulties at the Geneva
meeting, today suggested convoking a
joint session to include both the
present conferees and the delegates
to the first conference, on Far East
ern opium questions, which failed of
its objects.
The council informed NJ. Zahle that
it had no right to intervene in an in
ternational meeting of plenipotenti-
aries. but 1t had decided to offer the
above suggestion after detailed dis
cussion of the subject
The councils action is quite un-
precedented, but officials explain that
it was taken in a desire to help solve
a question which holds extraordinary
interest for people the world over.
Decision Is Notable.
The decision to intervene informally
is considered especially noteworthy.
because it was supported by such
members of the council as Austen
Chamberlain of Great Britain and
Ex-Premier BRAND of France, as
representatives of countries having a
pre-eminent interest in the first opium
conference, which failed to report any
effective system for bringing about
the suppression of opium smoking in
the Far East.
In other words, although the dele
gates of these and other powers hav-
ing Far Eastern possessions, where
opium smoking prevails, did not see
their way clear to negotiate q satis-
Fr<,
representatives on the league council
took an initiative which is virtually
in opposition to the Geneva decisions.
1t is recognized in Rome that the
councils action was taken as a re-
suit of the vigorous attitude assumed
at Geneva by Representative Stephen
G. Porter and Bishop Brent of the
American delegation. The latters
final appeal as he was leaving Geneva
reached the members of the council
in Rome and Is considered undoubt-
edly to have influenced their ultimate
decision.
The problem as to the institution of
a central board for the control Of the
opium and narcotic drug traffic drew
apparently nearer solution this
forenoon in the deliberations of the
international conference. Holland and
France, which had been objecting to
the proposition, agreed in subcommit-
tee to accept the principle of ad-
vance estimates Of annual supplies
for various countries. They did so,
however, under the stipulation that
such estimates of probable drug con-
sumption for an ensuing year were
not binding and would be capable OF
revision.
1t was announced that this after
noon Representative Porter would
bring up the American proposals re-
garding the traffic in prepared opium
before a plenary session of the con-
ference, making a statement on be-
half of the American delegation.
The American delegation to the
opium conference won point in
their favor by obtaining an agree
ment for holding of a plenary session
today.
Mrs. Hamilton Wright of the
American delegation and William d.
Norris, assistant solicitor Of the
United States State Department
agreed to bring Mrs. Wright's pro-
posal to determine what crops could
be profitably grown in the produc-
ing countries instead of opium, to
a concrete form by today.
The possibility that Japan will not
sign the agreement and protocol con-
cluding the work Of the first opium
conference loomed when it became
known that Delegate Sugimura had
cabled Toxic for fresh instructions.
The recent statement of Bishop
Brent disapproving the action of the
conference, 1t Is understood, caused
the Japanese to ask new instructions.