Opium Week

In Geneva, Opium Week at the Palace of the League of Nations opened auspiciously with an agreement between Britain and Japan whereby Britain now consents to recognize Japan's opium import certificates (TIME, Nov. 24) when the drug is transshipped at Hongkong.

Next, U. S. Congressman Stephen G. Porter of Pennsylvania (head of the U. S. delegation) successfully urged that discussion in the committee meetings of the Conference should be made public.

Later, Mr. Porter called for a plenary meeting of the Conference to discuss:

A. Prohibition of the manufacture of heroin;

B. Control of production and distribution of raw opium and coca leaves, so that no surplus would be left for purposes neither medical nor scientific.

Soon after the opening of the plenary meeting, Proposal A was settled by referring it to a commission for examination. But thunder clouds began to accumulate as discussion of Proposal B started. Mr. Porter had resolved to end the opium scourge. "Only by doing that," said he, "can we put sunshine and happiness into millions of homes where misery and squalor exist." Several minutes were filled with uproarious applause.

The chief delegate for India--one Campbell, a Briton--immediately opposed Proposal B, said that its adoption would deprive the people of India of opium for their personal use. The atmosphere became heated; and all manner of gross insinuations were hurled. Mr. Campbell held that the U. S. delegates had at last year's League Conference withdrawn their objections to India's demand for the continuance of opium eating and had stated that they did not wish to interfere in domestic matters. He insisted that the matter could not be reopened; if it were, the Indian delegation would find it difficult, perhaps impossible, to remain at the Conference.

Bishop Charles H. Brent of the U. S. delegation denied, in no uncertain tones, that Americans had last year made any compact about Indian reservations and insisted that in saying this he stood by the records of the League. He furthermore regretted that Mr. Campbell had raised the question of national honor. The U. S., said he, could not compromise with a curse.

The air began to sizzle. No word that could in any way be called ungentlemanly was uttered; yet the situation was tense; and the delegates strained forward as Mr. Campbell scrambled to his feet to insist that he had only stated facts in his former speech.

Senor Aguero of Cuba then moved adjournment "to give the delegates an opportunity for calm reflection."

Persia, third* largest opium growing country in the world, issued a statement to the effect that she was ready to abolish opium growing for the culture of silk, cotton, tea, tobacco, hemp and flax, provided she were accorded a loan of $10,000,000 for 20 years. In private, she let it be known that it was to the U. S. that she looked for this money.

When the delegates reassembled, 26 States voted for the U. S. proposal that India's opium problems properly belonged in the scope of the agenda.

After congratulating Mr. Porter and his fellows on their victory, the delegates expressed surprise at the manner in which the votes of the British Commonwealth had been split. The world had always supposed that the Commonwealth would vote solidly on League matters affecting any part of it. On Mr. Porter's opium issue, England and Australia abstained; Canada and Ireland supported the U. S.; India played a lone, losing hand of opposition.