Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15
BY VICTOR KEEN

/
locally edited Chinese periodical, DR..
WI charges that the problem Of opium
and its narcotic derivatives Is no longer
| solely confined to China, but has be-
come q world menace because the ever
increasing number Of addicts among the
races of Occident. 1t points out that
prior to 1927 China was regarded as
the only nation whose people were adj
] dicted to the opium habit, whereas since
| the World War narcotic addiction has
invaded the most sacred precincts of
| the Western nations as we'll"
Among the causes mentioned by DR..
WI as contributing to the increasing
use of habit-forming drugs in countries
hitherto untainted by the vice, are men
tai afniction, bodily pain, prolonged en-
| joyment, Buddhistic repose and physt"
cal exhaustion. To these he adds "the
modern craze for dancing, late nights
and outward smartness."
| Previous Opium Production
Before the agreement concluded be-
| tween China and Great Britain for
f., the opium traffic within 10 years, DR..
WI says China produced approximately
5000 pounds of opium annually aside
from the thousands of chests imported
| yearly from India. Within three years
after signing, China had uprooted every
| opium poppy. Farmers were instructed
to plant wheat and cotton in its stead.
A considerable quantity of the drug
still found its way into the country
from India or through the activities Of
| SmugglerS via Yuma, Formosa, Using
tao and the borders of Manchuria.
But one of the after effects of the
Chinese revolution of 1911 was the rise
Of the military war lords, who reintro-
duced poppy cultivation as a quick and
easy means of producing revenue for
the vast armies necessary to keep each
military leader in power.
/ "And So" DR.. WI writes, "for almost
20 years now opium suppression has
become almost a farce, and although
public opinion IS still dead against the
habit, the call for revenue has sup
planted every humanitarian considera-
ton"
Although the opium habit is no longer
regarded as fashionable and social
obligation, as it was before 1900, DR..
WI estimates that the annual produc-
ton Of the drug in China today amounts
to 1,500 pounds, or half the quantity
produced before the Anglo-C Chinese
agreement of 1907.
Charges SS5,000,OOO Graft.
"Oficially," DR.. WI goes on to say,
"the central government never has re-
ceived any revenue from the extensive
trade in opium, which under the pro-
lection Of military chiefs has developed
into one of the S.ggest scandals of the
country. The income thus received
amounting to 100 000, 900 taels annually
Approximately sS5,000,o00 in gold at
present exchange rates. has been dis
sipated by selfish individuals, with no
benefit to the nation"
DR.. Wu's plan of national govern
1 &11 r4~s- e A. H.
and gradual diminution of poppy culti-
walton and opium smoking over a Is
year perioi includes the following eight
proposals:
81. The central authorities, through
the Government Opium Suppression
Bureau, should acknowledge the magni-
tude Of the affair and invite practical
business and scientific leaders to con-
ference to adopt a fundamental method
of dealing with the danger.
"2. Without delay, an accurate survey
should be made of the areas Of poppy
cultivation throughout the various prov
inces, so that full data may be available
for the guidance of the authorities.
"3. An interregnum of Is years for
bringing the whole affair to an end.
During this year strict control of its
production throughout the republic by
the central government should be eS-
tablished, particular stress to be laid on
the ports and cities whence the raw
drug is exported.
Separate Excise Account.
"a. Invite the experienced staff of
the maritime customs to collect the
necessary revenue, say, at the rate OF
1000 taels (about $3.50 gold) per picul
(133 pounds, which should be entered
as separate opium excise account. BY
this means immediate operation could
be assured with little or no extra cost
to the country.
as. Out of the gross revenue thus
collected at least 10 per cent should
be ear-marked for the establishment
and maintenance of opium refugees
tiers, where addicts could be treated
and whence anti-opium and health
propaganda could be disseminated.
"6. Hand-in-hand with the above
there should be firmly enforced the
gradual diminution of poppy cultivation
and opium smoking by one-f1fteenth
every year, so that the provinces and
people could adapt themselves to the
progressive policy of the government.
~. It is not advisable to adopt too
drastic or detailed a scheme at the be-
ginning, such as the licensing or photo
graphing of opium habitueS, for such
means entail enormous expenses of adj
ministration and numberless loopholeS
for misdeeds, apart from the unpopu
larity of the measure.
"8. There is no need to be ashamed
Of this apparent inconsistency from
previous declared opium policies of the
government, for a mistake corrected is
better than an obstinate inSistence
upon impractical methods. Besides we
have the glaring example of the power
full and well organized United States of
America, which, in spite of its advan-
tageS, has not been able to solve the
problem of prohibition among a popu-
lat1on only one-fourth ours"
Faces Issue SquareIy
The obvious weakness in DR.. Wu's
plan is that it is postulated on the
assumption that the authority of the
central government is as effective in,
say, remote Szechuen Province as it is
in Marking. The fallacy of this pre-
mise Is eloquently demonstrated by the
present bandit suppression campaign in
the comparatively central provinces Of
Hupeh, Human and Kiagsi, campaign
which the most Sanguine Marking off,
cial must admit has made but little
Roadway in the last two months But
despite its elements of impracticability,
the Chinese reformer's proposals show
q frank and sincere desire Squarely to
face issues and facts regardless Of
whether or not they rebound to the
credit of his country.
In discussion of the world aspects
Of the narcotic question, Or. WI saws
the problem of cocaine and numerous
derivatives of opium is in many re-
spectS of more outstanding importance
for the world than the opium problem.
twenty years ago." DR.. WI writes,
$5O.OOO,O 900. the French share predomi-