DRUG PROBLEMS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18366, 27 April 1925, Page 11

DRUG PROBLEMS.

BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE.

REPLY TO CRITICISM,

I'BT CABLE—'•BESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received April 2Gth, 9.55 p.m.)

XEW YORK, April 23.

Critieism3 of Great Britain's attitude toward American rum-running and narcotic problems and of her foreign policy as one of "pure greed and selfishness" were contradicted by Lord Esme Howard. Eritish Ambassador, in an address to the Sons of St. George at Philadelphia. He said ho had heard of many criticisms which either denied to British people any virtue at all or questioned "British professions of disinterestedness" in their attitude towards the opium, liquor, and smuggling

questions. He declared that he took no notice of the first kind of criticism, but the second was too insidious to overlook. He said there was no decent-minded man in Great Britain who did not deplore the fact that there were evil-disposed persons who abused the British flag in order to violate the laws of the United States in regard to liquor and smuggling. He declared that the liquor treaty between the United States and Great Britain was intended to remedy the evil, and although some arrests had been made which were not quite within the terms of the treaty, the British Government had refrained from protesting in view of the nature of the offence. After pointing out Great Britain's record in establishing liberal reforms, he maintained that British rule the world over dicl not stand for oppression, greed, graft, power, or force. lie denied statements that Great Britain had not contributed her share of sacrifices in the "World War, and said the Empire did not benefit as greatly from the war as some persons contended.