Gordon Tightens Around Narcotic Trade of World

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 31, 20 February 1937, Page 15

Gordon Tightens Around Narcotic Trade of World

WASHINGTON. — The never-ending, ever-ehanging world battle against narcotics has frequently in the past degenerated into a squabble between the battlers on the sdde of suppression. Ten years ago, the British and American governments were acidly exchanging views reflecting no solidarity whatever in a struggle that demanded unity. And to-day the State Department releases an exchange of correspondence revealing that conflicts and squabbles between the policemen still exist— though the cordon around the criminals is getting narrower. It also shows that the League of Nations is as ready as ever to eomply with the views of the United States. At the recent meeting of the' ninetvthird session of the League Council, a rappoi'teur on narcotics arose and read the following statement regarding the latest antinarcotics treaty, drafted in Geneva in June, 1936: "I certainly express the feeling of the conference in regretting that the delegation of the United States of America did not consider it possible to sign the convention, because it did not provide for the criminal prosecution of the habit of smoking opium. ..." To which the United States Government iirmly protested to the League. communicating a note — which has since gone to all League members interested iu the subject — saying: "The foregoing statement conveys an entirely erroneousi impression. . . . the American representatives at no fime suggested that the convention be drafted to require criminal prosecution of the habit of opium smoking. They (Jid suggest that the convention be so drafted as to require parties to it to provide by legislation penalties adequate to enforce the legislation already stipulated by the existing drug conventions to be cnaeted and enferccd by governments. ' '

Signature to the convention, it is idded, was withheld because "the American Goverument considers that ipplication of the stipulations of thq ;onvention as drafted would weaken ather thau strengthen the iuteruationil measurcs availablo to-day to sup>ress the abuse of narcotic drugs and vould not effectively contribute to the )revention or punishment of the illieit raffie. ' ' To which the League, through its ecretary — general, immediately agrees > (1) circnlate the American note to

the council; (2) spread the word arnong members of the opium conference; (3) and do it all not only iu English, but in Frencb as well. Tho Amei'iean note had had regretted that the former communication of the f'-;ied States luid not been translat.sl into Fremdi or Spanish.