Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-02-06
u. S. ENJOYS QUIT
OPIUM PARLEy ON
0. K. OF COOLIDGE
Convinced Deadlock Cannot
Be Broken, Porter Says,
Explaining Course.
DELEGATES WILL LEAVE
GENEVA FOR u. S. TONIGHT
President Expresses Regret at Con-
ference's Inability to Devise
Curb on Drug.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
GENEVA, February 6.-The Amer
lean delegation today announced it's
withdrawal from the international
lopium conference because it had been
made evident that the purposes for
which the conference was called could
not he accomplished. The American
O. CiSion came stunning blow TO
all the delegates. While it had been
thought that the representatives of
the United States would not sign
the anti-narcotic convention now
completed, the general expectation
had been that they would remain
until the end and then announce they
would consider the question of sig
nature.
The American breakaway from the
conference apparently does not mean its
collapse as at an official meeting of the
most important of its commissions today
the trend of the speeches was that
while the American decision was
keenly regretted the work must be
pushed on and practical results
achieved if possible.
Decision Not Hasty.
The statement of Representative
Stephen G. Porter of Pennsylvania,
head of the American delegation. that
he was acting with the authority of
the President of the United States, in
dicates clearly to the delegates that
the American negotiatorS had made
no hasty decision, but had withdrawn
after mature deliberation and con-
, slant consultation with Washington.
Although it was at first announced
that the Americans would leave
Geneva tonight, Porter stated later
that his departure would not occur
before tomorrow, as he desired to
take friendly leave of the conference
leaders and of Sir Eric Drummond,
secretary general of the League Of
Nations, the work of whose secre-
tariat of the conference Mr.. Porter
praised in the formal letter Of with
drawal sent to President Zahle of the
conference. The letter follows:
'In pursuance of the authorization
of the President of the United States,
the American delegation, to its deep
regret, finds itself unable longer to
participate in the deliberations of the
opium conference"
Participation Reviewed.
A memorandup accompanying the
letter read:
he LedR uS Oh NdllOnS on oCLODeT
Is, 1928, extended an invitation to the
powers signatory to The Hague con-
vention. including the United States,
to participate in an international con-
ference called for the purpose of CIV
ing effect to the following principles
subject to reservation made by cer-
tain nations regarding the smoking
of opium:
Firstly, if the purpose of The
Hague opium convention is to be
achieved according to it's spirit and
true intent 1T must be recognized that
the use of opium products for other
than medical and scientific purposes
is abuse and not legitimate.
secondly, In order to prevent
abuse of these products it is neces-
sary to exercise control of the pro-
duction of raw opium in such a man.
ner that there shall be no surplus
available for non-medical and nom
scientific purposes
Congress Stand Cited.
The joint resolution adopted by
the Congress of the United States on
May Is. 1924, authorizing our parti-
cipation in the present conference
quoted the principles referred to in
the preamble and expressly stipulated
That the representatives of the
United States shall sign no agreement
which does not fulfill the conditions
necessary for suppression of the mar
cotic drug traffic as set forth in the
preamble
Despite over two months of dis
cussion and repated adjournments, it
now clearly appears that the purpose
for which the conference was called
cannot be accomplished. The reports
of the various committees plainly indi-
cate that there is no likelihood under
present conditions that the production
of raw opium and coca leaves will be re-
strcted to the medicinal and scientific
needs Of the world. In fact the nature
of the reservations shows that no ap-
preciable reduction in raw opium is to
be expected.
TT was hoped that if the nations in
whose territory the use of smoking
opium is temporarily permitted would,
in pursuance of the obligation under
faken under chapter IL of The
Hague convention, adopt measures re-
stricting the Importation of raw
opium for the manufacture of smok
ing opium, or would agree to suppress
the traffic within a definite period,
such action would materially reduce
the market for raw opium and an ex-
tensive limitation of production would
inevitably follow.
Nations Not Prepared.
unfortunately however, these ma
. 1fons, with the exception of Japan,
' are not prepared to reduce the con-
sumption of smoking opium unless
the producing nations agree to reduce
production ano prevent smuggling
from their territories, and then only
in the event of adequate guar
antee being given that the obliga-
tions undertaken by the producing g
nations would be effectively and
promptly fulfilled. No restriction of
the production of raw opium under
such conditions can be expected.
In the matter of the manufacture
of drugs and control of transporta-
tion an Improvement over The Hague
convention is noticeable. There is
however, no likelihood of obtaining
complete control of all opium and
coca leaf derivatives irrespective OF
the measure of control provided for
manufactured drugs.
1T is believed, by reason of the
very small bulk, the ease Of trans
portation with minimum risk of de-
section and the large financial gains
obtainable from their Illicit handling
such drugs and their derivatives can
only be effectively controlled If pro-
duction Of raw opium and coca leaves