Evening star., 1924-11-17
OPIUM CONFERENCE
0PENSUNDERCLOUD
Stormy Clash Between Brit
ish and Japanese Echoes
at Session.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
GENEVA, November lin the
presence of the official American DEL
ogation, headed by Representative
stephen G.. Porter of Pennsylvania
the Fourth international Conference
for International Control of the Traf-
lie In Habit-Forming Narcotic Drugs,
| opened today in the League of Ma
tions' Palace. The conference was pre-
sided over by Herluf Zahle, Danish
Minister to Berlin, and leading Dan
ish delegate to the League of Nations
assembly.
! The object of the conference Is not
only to obtain an agreement for limi-
tation of the expectation and impor-
tation of narcotics to medical and
scientific needs, but also toNresrict the
growth of the plants from which
they are manufactured to the same
! humane requirements.
The delegates assembled today ami
matedly discussing what was generally
regarded as the complete failure of
the preceding conference which ended
last night and which was confined to
considering the far eastern aspect of
the opium evil.
The clash at this conference be-
tween England and Japan over the
alleged discrimination against Japan
in opium purchases was the chief
topic of conversation. The rupture
in the first conference came about
when it was charged by the Japanese
that other powers especially England
had failed to recognize opium import
certificates issued by the japanese
government.
Japan later issued another state
ment declaring that If she issued
certificates for opium in excess of
Japan's scientific and medical needs
she would violate international en-
gagemeHts, and. the other powers
could seek reparations under article
l of the covenant of the League of
Nations.
The statement added that Japan
demands protection for her legitimate
commerce in opium and insists that
the league covenant prevents the
states from adopting measures un-
fair to the legitimate interests of
other members of the league.
Not since the Corfu dispute between
Italy and Greece has the palace of
the League of Nations been the scene
of such tense incidents as marked
yesterdays session of the opium con-
ference, the object of which was to
arrange not alone the suppression of
opium smoking in the Far East, but
for the curbing of excessive opium
production in China.
In consequence of charges by the
British delegate and the apparent
impossibility to obtain satisfaction
concerning Japan's freedom to pur-
chase opium abroad, the Japanese
delegation virtually bolted the con-
ference.
The morning session adjourned
with all the delegates admitting that
the conference had virtually col
lapsed, since it had achieved nothing
on it's program. Nevertheless, on the
earnest appeal of the presiding Of
ficer, NJ. Van Mettum of Holland, the
delegates agreed to reassemble in the
afternoon and take up points In the
program which were less contentious
in nature than the questions which
had produced the rupture.
Japanese Make Charges.
The mornings clash was caused by
Jspan's allegation that she was being
Disseminated against by other pow
ers, chiefly Great Britain, in connec-
ton with the shipment of opium, and
further that when the Japanese gov
ernment issued import certificates
they were not always recognized by
the other powers. The break was
Immediately due, however, to Japa-
Continued on Page 8, Column A.