WAR ON OPIUM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2145, 30 July 1907, Page 3

WAR ON OPIUM.

The United States Government, working jointly with the British authorities, will inaugurate a new wai upon the opium vice. Tho United States Government has taken the initiative after a careful sounding of the countries interested. Assistant Secretary of State Bacon, with the approval of President Roosevelt, has extended an invitation to all the Powers in the Ear East to participate in an international conference, which shall devise measures for the suppression of tho use of opium, if this be possible,or at least its restric tion.

Negotiations on the subject have been in progress since last September. At that time the President received from Bishop Charles H. Bret, since 1902 Bishop, of the Episcopal Church for the Philippine Islands, a 'letter calling his attention to the spread of opium-smoking in the archipelago, and urging that international measures be taken by which the vice could be eradicated, not only in the American possessions, but throughout the East.

President Roosevelt referred his letter to Assistant Secretary Bacon, Mr. Root at the time being in South America, and the latter at once sent instructions to the American Ambassador at London, directing him to ascertain from the British Government if it would take part in such a conference. The assent of Great Britain was a primary requisite, because India i: the home of the opium poppy, and the total value of the trade is ovei £6,000,000 annually. Moreover, as is generally known, the British Government forced wai on China in 1839 for the purpose oi compelling the admission of opium, and this war proved the entering wedge into Chinese commercial anti political isolation.