League Finds Opium Traffic

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 449, 3 September 1928, Page 9

League Finds Opium Traffic

May Send To Far East

Kecd. 10.59 a.m. RUGBY, Sunday. The Council of the League of Nations considered the question of control of the opium traffic. Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, the Canadian representative, presented a report on the subject, and moved that the British Government’s proposal for instituting a commission of inquiry into the situation should be sent forward to the Assembly, this reference being necessary, as funds for such an inquiry can be voted only by the Assembly. Lord Cushendun, the British representative, explaining the proposal, said that under the Hague Convention of 1912 the British and other Governments were pledged to a gradual suppression of the trade in, and use of, prepared opium. Efforts had been made to carry out that undertaking, but owing to conditions in the Far East great difficulties were experienced, especially at Hong Kong, where it was found impossible to prevent illicit traffic. Those who had followed the events intimately would have seen how difficult it was to prevent illicit traffic I in alcohol, and would understand how much more difficult it was for HongKong to prevent illicit traffic in opium. In these circumstances, the British Government had thought it desirable

A Difficult Thing to Fight

that the League should appoint a commission to examine the conditions independently and impartially, and no doubt they would advise as to how the difficulties might be overcome. He hoped it would be taken as a proof of the confidence which the British Government reposed in the League of Nations that it should be willing to hand over a matter touching such vast commercial and material interests to impartial examination. He also hoped that it would be taken as proof of the British Government's desire to stop the traffic. M. Paul Boncour (France), and the Dutch representative, supporting the proposal, declared that their respective Governments would facilitate an inquiry in their far distant dependencies. It was decided to refer the proposal to the League Assembly, as the Geneva Opium Convention, having been ratified by the requisite number of Powers, comes into force on September 25. The League Council considered the appointment of a permanent central board, set up under Article 19 of the Convention. „ The Convention provides that the United States must be asked to nominate a member, and the council decided to invite the Government of the United States to do so.