Evening star., 1928-04-19
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

With what cunning and ease is the
good name Of Uncle Sam dandled in
the debates Of the League OF Nations!
II were so courteous and kind Il q
Japanese were 10 speak Latin enough
TO refer to Commodore Perry's invita-
ton 10 Japan. in 1854. 20 come into the
family of civilized nations: +TetigtStl
me ct exarSi IN pAcem tuaGn' Thou
hast touched me and have been trans
lated into thy peace) But Is that the
spirit OF what he actually said? JamaiS
de Ia viel Not on your hfeO NJ.
Sato delegate from Nippon. was dis
cuSSing the expectation Of contra6and
opium. and he boasted that before
Commodore Perry broke Japan's iSola-
ton" the bright lexicon OF Nippon
knew no such word as ''contraband. .
so it was all the fault Of Perry that
Japan has its pipe dreams.
II his country had not successfully
resisted this and other attempts 20
force foreign products and customs
upon the Japanese people. Sato as
serted. he would not be at Geneva to-
day for Japan now would be a colony
OF some other power.
He announced that Japan would re-
fuse to limit the production and expor-
tation Of narcotics untl the other ma
tons did the same
Yet. Japan, By solemn treaty, is COM
miTted 80 that limitation.
-
SO IL is only because Japan resisted
the bad American influences that she Is
still an independent nation; otherwise
some other nation would have come in
against her ISOLATION and conquered her
dependence-aS America had no de-
Stw 20 H. - 2e a
reasoning which casts whatever blame
is possible 70 cast upon Perry'S achieve
ment IN uniting Japan with civilization
Americas gift Of $4,000, 900 for earth
quake relief and other signs OF friend
illness may be forgotten. Perry the VII
lam, Is 10 blame for Japan'S exporting
In 1928 opium and its products OF evil
And so profitable is the expert Of the
contrahand that that thrifty country
viii not agree 10 stop il 50 long as
competitor nations do not achieve their
stoppage Thrift. Horatiol" AS vel
as dehauchery of mankind'
However, It has not always been that
Japan has spoken in the tone OF NJ
Sato. even in an anti-narcotic confer
ence The fsrSt conference on that
subject or international concern was
held at The Hague. in 1912 out since
the organization Of the League OF Ma
tlonS the responsibility has been turned
over 10 the League. which has held two
conferences at Geneva. The League
has created an advisory committee cn
traffic of opium, AZ both conferences
az Geneva the United States has been
ably represented: the chief representa-
tive has been Representative Stephen
q. Porter, chairman Of the House cens-
mittee on foreign relations.
Al the laSt conference in Geneva
Japan was represented by NJ Suglmava,
who spoke IN very different tome from
that of the later spokesman for Japan
lie said. as quoted In the Oftleial report
"As far as the Japanese delegation
was concerned, the question of opium
was above all, q humanitarian and So
eIal question. The economic ana
financial ems deyasions. regarding ira-
port, eNnar sale. purchase etc. were
only oT secondary conSgQuence.
Too mitch criticism had neen made hy
the League of Nations IN regard to
China. Appeals should now I've made
10 the sentiments af brotherhood
which bound the people sentiments
WflktA 4pIHkCA kktN 3tatN AA tksN kEANttN
OF NattonS-~that no country could X
certain that II wou,d not itself one eav
fall into disorder, which would pAralyae
its normal lite, In the previous wear
Japan had been the victim oi a ter
rihie earthquake, had received the Val.
uahle assistance og Great Britain
France, United States, the Netherlands.
China itself and other nations aud
Japan would always ee grateful for
such mark of sympathy Ii leeanss
which had inspired such action were e.
disappear what would be the uae af
the League at NatiogSe such geellaseS
aught To dominate the question Il
opium, Witch vas above All. human-
tartan and sSeial question
With the spirit af serlatS apeFeetar
tson os Che WoTld menace al she mar
eotlo evil and the rising above integ.
national 1ealoasies In the eAuSe af
humanity, there IL hope ag weIla.wiSe
90 operation, Without WAITING anywhtae
~ sev II Ilnaneial interests are eNa~
ovtAed In the United states there alv
sreat organizations ag women ssteh A.
lnyavlahly take the lead la hlulaina un
pAhlle ssAsiAksAe IA tAe ApAgs ~ pWesss |