New Britain herald., 1925-02-09
THl. GREATEST CURSE OF THE AGE

VI shilf
 Tho International opium Confer enco, which has been in session in Geneva is again a virtual failure. When the American delegates, rep rcsorting the most hiEh-mindod and atruistic force a, the conference, withdrrw tho Chinese delegates. equally idc1lis'ic in their desire to s"o tbc opium, trade hanishcd also withdrew Many of those who re- main have d vested interest in the opium trade and not much advance in curbing if can br expected at their hands. But public opinion has E"en aroused and ultimately good results arc anticipated.
 The collapse or such a confer enco at this time is a sorrowrul in- dr> Of the inability of the human race to substitute humanitarian for greed There arc huge profits in the opium trade because the millions of addic's in the world must have the drug at all costs.
 The sleep poppy source of opium, is native plant in southeastern Europe and western Asia. Ancient records refer 10 it as a means of manufacturing poison. But opium smoking was first devised by the Dutch in Java in the 18th century. The opium was first mixed with to- bacco, then used alone. From Java it was taken to Formosa, thence to the mainland of China. Portuguese traders first developed the importa- ton of opium into China.
 The Portuguese were succeeded by the East India Company. with monopoly of the opium traffic in India. The amount shipped from India into China rose 10 10000, ,oO0 pounds in 1858. In 1906 production in China itself was estimated at '44.00u,000 pounds. although impor- taions from Inlia continued. In that year add:c;s in China num- bered 27 percent of the adult male population
 A French chcmiS' in 1893 dis covered how to produce morphine from opium and half century later an Austrian chemist discovered how to produce cocaine from cocoa leaves. A German chemist in 1898 discovered how to produce hcroin from morphine IIoron is by far the strongos ot any narcotic and it's menace has developed into a pressing world probIom
 It wilt have been noted that the discovery and exploitation of these narca:ics came about through the skill of tnc white races, and that these. spurrrd by prospect of illicit gains. introduced opium into China and India. But that isn't all Of the story Of "wuite supr, macy The white nations varrod on China for attempting 10 suppress ire opium traffic within it's borders. The Chi nrsc government issued its first edict prohibiting opium smoking in 1729. shortly art,r its introduction by white traders In 17a0 inc Chi ncse government issued another cdict prohibiting opium smoking. By 1Soo il wont 10 the root of the trouble and prohibited the impor- tation of opium into China. This led 10 opium wars wagcd on China by the Christian white nations in- volvcd, compelling the submission of China 10 the importation of opium.
 Hope for real reform came in 19p5, when America enacted a law prohibiting the opium traffic in the Philippine Islands and sent a com r,it4r,, t,. ,y,,,... ,,,, ,,,,.,,+.. h. .,.-;., China followed in 1906 with an edict prohibiting tho use of opium and the culture of Enc poppy The United States originated the first lnterna- tional Opium Conference in Shang- hai in 1909. which was followed by second and third conferences at the Hague in 1912 and 1913. The pres ent conference at Geneva was the fourth, and was identified with the opium commission of the League of Nations and it's committees.
 The use of narcotics in the prac- tiee of medicine has been of out standing benefit to the human race; but their illicit use by drug addicts has been a curse Of the first magni- tude. The procurement of new ad- diets is ono of the prime requisites Of high profits in this nefarious