Evening star., 1925-01-20
PORTERS REbUKE
GETS RETRACT|ON
OF CECIL SPEECH
Opium Conference Stirred
When British Spokesman
Offers Apology.
ISLANDER OF AMERICA
CHARGED BY DELEGATE
Most Dramatic Session of Farley
Comes When United States Lead
er Makes Rejoinder.
Ey tie Associated Press.

Ey the Associated Press.
GENEVA, January 20.-Accusing
Lord Cecil of CheIwood of slandering
the American people when he alleged
they were consuming more opium than
the people of India, Representative
Stephen Porter of Pennsylvania to-
day became the center of the most
dramatic session of the international
opium conference yet held.
The stern rebuke administered by
the head of the American delegation
was followed by Lord Cecils imme-
diately Withdrawing his allegation
and expressing his profound regret
that he had been misled into making
an untrue statement.
The conference had scarcely recov-
cred from the tension over the Por-
ter-Cecil incident when it was again
thrilled by MT Porter's appeal for the
West to cease exploitation of the
East in opium. and by his solemn
warning that the world was threat
ened with bolshevism.
This latter declaration seemed
deeply to impress his auditors. be-
cause of Mr.. Porter's position as
chairman OF the foreign relations
committee of the House of Represent
atives.
Mr.. Porter was fighting for the sup
preston of opium smoking in the Far
East He had opposed yesterdays
British proposal to stop the smoking
in Is years. beginning from the time
when China had suppressed her
growth of opium to a stage which
would remove the danger of opium
smuggling from China into other Far
Eastern territories. Then in a spirit
of Cancellation ne extended the time
limit in the American plan for the
abolition of smoking to make ii IS
years instead of the original 10. In
urging the adoption of the provision
he asked why the Western powers
should safeguard their own homes
while leaving the homes of the Orten-
tails open to exploitation.
Are not their children as dear TO
them as ours are to u.s." he asked.
for the West ana another for the East
Let us have one law for all and thus
really work for world peace"
Referring to bolshevism, Mr. Porter
insisted he had opposed the recogni-
tion of Russia by the United States
not only because of his own country,
but because he realized the danger to
Europe from bolshevik propaganda.
He argued that failure to reach an
accord on opium at Geneva would
put additional propaganda into the
hands of the bolsheviki in the Far
East which was calculated to en-
danger world peace.
Verse Than Human Slavery.
In concluding the American con-
gressman declared the opium traffic
a worse form of slavery than the
human slavery, which, before it was
suppressed. had almost destroyed the
American Republic.
Let US put right on the throne
and wrong on the scafold," he eX-
claimed.
At the start of his remarks Mr..
/ Porter, taking note of brief address
made by Mr. Sugimura of Japan, sup
| porting the American motion to re-
view the work done by the first opium
conference and approving the Amer
| lean ten-year proposal for abolish
! ing opium smoking, congratulated
| Japan upon the way she had earnest
ly tried to suppress the smoking
/ practice
"Japans policy" he said, 'is found
| ed on the principle of suppression
without regard to revenue" Unfor-
| tunately. he added, when some gov
! ernments have revenue in sight they
conceal their real attitude.
AssaiIs CeciI's stand.
The American delegate then created
! his sensation by strongly criticizing
Lord Cecil for his assertion of yester-
day that the consumption of opium
per capita in the United States was
| greater than in India. 1t was his
duty to the American people, whom
he represented, he said, to challenge
''such a vile accusation" The chief
British delegate had pleaded yester-
| day for cooperation, continued Mr.
Porter, but he was hardly practicing
what he preached in making such an
! accuse ton.
| "If he could have uttered a greater
! Continued ON Page 2, Column p