Our action as delegates has not in any way committed the United States to this plan, but has merely made sure that the way should remain open if our Government should wish to follow it.

We have [etc.]

[Inclosure No. 1.]

HENRY VAN DYKE.
CHAS. DENBY.

Statement made by American Delegate Denby.

MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: I beg to call your attention to the legislation for the control of opium and narcotics in the United States.

In 1909 the United States had already on her statute books a law excluding from the United States opium except for medicinal purposes. In accordance with the proposed convention which we now have under discussion, this law has been during this year radically amended. These amendments provide:

1. For absolute prohibition to have smoking-opium in possession or to transport the same; further, for the punishment of any person who having knowledge of opium being held or transported shall fail to advise the authorities thereof.

2. That no opium for smoking shall be admitted into the United States for transportation into another country.

3. That no opium or derivatives thereof shall be exported from the United States to any country which regulates their entry, unless in conformity with the regulations of such country.

4. That penalties for violations of above provisions shall be not more than $5,000 fine or two years imprisonment.

The law is drastic in its terms; possession of opium will be sufficient evidence to convict.

Other domestic laws of the United States are:

An act which became effective January 1, 1910, and which empowered the Postmaster General to close the United States mails to cocaine and other drugs; and further, laws and projects of laws which regulate the production, distribution and manufacture of habit-forming drugs.

As to opium in the Philippine Islands, a law controlling the import and use of opium in the Philippine Islands came into force March 1, 1908.

The effect has been immediate and convincing as to the efficacy of prohibitory legislation; in 1905 the amount imported in kilogrammes was 121,600; in 1906, 68,100; in 1907, 77,000; in 1908, 23,000; in 1909, 52 kilogrammes.

Prior to the above legislation the sum of $300,000 per annum was derived from duties. In 1909 only $274 were derived from this source. The increased value of the drug has been an incentive to smuggling; but, to show how effective has been the control, it is to be pointed out that in 1909 only 1,388 kilogrammes were seized in attempts at illegal importation. If all smuggled opium were not seized and if we assume that twice as much more came in undetected, we have only about 4,000 kilogrammes per annum unlawfully admitted as compared with ten, twenty, or thirty times that amount lawfully admitted in previous years.

It is fairly to be presumed that with a worldwide control of the traffic under the terms of the Convention which is under consideration even this small extent of smuggling could be stopped. The laws of the United States as to the Philippines leave little to be desired in control of the opium and drug traffic; but to make those laws perfectly effective the United States Government does depend on the cooperation of the other powers.

Turning to legislation as to American extraterritorial jurisdiction in China, I am able to inform you that projects of law now before the Congress of the United States ready for enactment and partly enacted, carry out fully the provisions of the Convention as to the control which the United States exercises over American citizens in China. One bill controls American pharmacies in American consular districts in China and regulates the administering of morphine and other drugs.

Long before the first opium conference in Shanghai in 1909, namely in 1880, the United States had by treaty with China debarred the opium trade in China to American citizens. It was made unlawful for an American citizen to buy or sell, ship or handle opium in China and in fact for decades the flag of the

United States has covered no part of this traffic. The Convention which we now discuss provides for certain legislation as to Foreign Concessions in China. The United States has no concessions there. The Convention further provides for control of Foreign Post Offices in China as to receiving opium and drugs. The United States has but one post office in China, that at Shanghai, and that is effectively covered by the powers given to the Postmaster General of the United States by the law which became effective on January 1, 1910.

It can not be made too clear that in urging the other Signatory Powers to put the Opium Convention into effect, we are urging something which the United States has already done. The provisions of the Convention are to a great extent the law of the United States to-day, and they will certainly be entirely enacted into law, and we hope that all other parties to the Convention will do likewise. Only by your cooperation can world-wide control be established and only by your cooperation can our legislation be entirely effective, even within our own borders.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

Resolution of the Convention Regarding Ratification.

AVIS.

I. That it is possible to put the International Opium Convention of the 23rd of January, 1912, into effect notwithstanding the fact that some of the Powers invited according to paragraph 1 of Article 23 have not yet signed the Convention.

II. That the Convention shall be put into effect between all the Powers when the Powers which have signed it and those which have expressed their intention to adhere to it shall have ratified it. The date at which the Convention shall be put into effect shall be that fixed by paragraph 1 of Article 24.

III. That if on a date to be determined by the Conference all the Signatory Powers have not yet deposited their ratifications, the Signatory Powers whose ratifications at that date have been deposited shall have the right to put the Convention into effect. The same right shall be left to the Signatory Powers as they successively deposit their ratifications subsequent to that date.

IV. That the date referred to in clause III shall be the 31st of December, 1914.

V. That the possibility of acceding to the Convention remains open to the Powers which have not yet signed it.

DECISIONS.

That a protocol shall be opened at The Hague, whereby the signatory Powers disposed to avail themselves of the right embraced in clause III may declare their intention to put the Convention into effect.

His excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, in compliance with the wish unanimously expressed by the Conference, consents to prepare this protocol, which shall remain open for signatures.

RESOLUTION ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Conference invites his excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, in the name of the Conference, to urgently and respectfully approach the Signatory Powers which have not yet ratified the Convention nor expressed their intention to do so, with a view to inducing them to declare that they are prepared within a very brief period to deposit their ratifications in order that the Convention may be put into effect as early as possible.

[Inclosure No. 3.]

Statement of Delegate van Dyke before the Conference.

[Translation.]

In seconding the proposal of thanks made by the honorable Delegate of Switzerland, I wish to add a few words on behalf of the United States of America. As the initiator of the Shanghai Opium Commission, our country

feels great satisfaction in the progress which has been made in the peaceful war against the opium-abuse. Each stage of the campaign has been marked by new victories won and new ground gained. Within the present year many nations have signed the Convention or intimated their intention of doing so. Encouraged by the good news of ratifications which have come in while we have been in session, this Third Conference has approved, by a large majority, the principle that the Convention may be put into effect by consenting Powers without waiting for unanimous agreement.

In all this advance the firm and sympathetic attitude of the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands has been of immense advantage. His excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, our Honorary President, has rendered great service to the cause, not only in our sessions but also by his steady and consistent action through diplomatic channels. The President, the Honorable Mr. Cremer, has presided in the spirit of hope. The Chairman of the Redaction Committee, Mr. van Deventer, has earned the high gratitude of the Conference by his patient labors in search of "formules. acceptables."

It is true that numerous and serious objections to the mise en vigueur of the Convention have been raised by certain of the honored delegates. They suggest reflection. The Government of the United States has already ratified the Convention and gone farther than any other nation in passing anti-opium legislation. But naturally it has no desire to give its legislation a form which would favor or permit the creation by any other power or powers of a monopoly in the opium traffic.

We

But this point does not in any way condition our devotion to the cause. have already given clear and practical proof of it. We shall continue our relations of cordial cooperation with those Powers of Europe, Asia, and America, which are already actively and practically committed to the campaign against the opium evil. We shall hope that all the civilized nations of the world will soon come into this movement completely and heartily, and join themselves in a world-wide union for protection, not only of their own citizens but of the whole human race, against the curse of the opium evil.

File No. 511.4A1/1488.

Minister Williams to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.]

AMERICAN LEGATION,

Athens, July 10, 1914.

WILLIAMS,

Greek Government accepts without reservation Opium Convention. Congratulations.

File No. 511.4A1/1499.

The Minister of the Netherlands to the Secretary of State.

No. 3717.]

[Translation.]

LEGATION OF THE NETHERLANDS, Washington, December 17, 1914. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: By order of my Government I have the honor to inform your excellency that the Third International Opium Conference, which met at The Hague in June last, decided in its Final Protocol that the Powers that ratified the Opium Convention might declare their intention to put it into operation by signing a protocol to be opened for the purpose at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at The Hague.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs at The Hague deems it his duty to act upon the decision of the Opium Conference by informing the States that have ratified the convention that a protocol, drawn up in accordance with the opinion rendered by the Conference, has been opened at the Department of Foreign Affairs at The Hague.

Your excellency will please find herewith a proof of the protocol, together with a copy of the Final Protocol of the Third International Opium Conference.

Accept [etc.]

W. L. F. C. DE RAPPARD.

[Inclosure 1-Translation.]

Final Protocol of the Third International Opium Conference, 1914.

The Third International Opium Conference, convoked by the Government of the Netherlands in accordance with the third provision of the Final Protocol of the Second Conference, met at The Hague, in the Hall of the Knights, on June 15, 1914.

The Governments hereinafter enumerated took part in the Conference, for which they had appointed the following delegates:

[Here follow the names of the Governments and their delegates.]

At a series of meetings held from the 15th to the 25th of June, 1914, the Conference, having examined the question submitted to it under the third provision of the Final Protocol of the Second Conference

A. Expressed the following opinions:

I. That it is possible to put the International Opium Convention of January 23, 1912, into operation, notwithstanding the fact that certain Powers invited in pursuance of paragraph 1 of article 23 have not yet signed the convention.

II. That the convention shall go into effect among the Signatory Powers as soon as the Powers that have signed it and those that have expressed their intention of adhering thereto have ratified it. The date upon which the convention will go into effect shall be that fixed by paragraph 1 of article 24.

III. That if at a date to be determined by the Conference all the Signatory Powers have not yet deposited their ratifications it shall be allowable for those Signatory Powers whose ratifications have at that date been deposited to put the convention into effect. The same provision is made for those Signatory Powers that successively deposit their ratifications after that date.

IV. That the date contemplated by III shall be December 31, 1914.

V. That the power of acceding to the convention do remain open to the Powers that have not yet signed it.

B. Decided:

That a protocol shall be opened at The Hague by which the Signatory Powers disposed to avail themselves of the provision made by III may declare their intention of putting the convention into effect.

His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, satisfying the desire unanimously expressed by the Conference, has consented to draw up this protocol, which will remain open for signature.

C. Unanimously adopted the following resolution:

The Conference invites His Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands to make, in the name of the Conference, urgent and respectful representation to those Signatory Powers that have neither ratified the convention nor expressed their intention of so doing, with a view to induce them to declare themselves ready at an early date to deposit their ratifications, in order that the convention may go into effect as soon as possible.

In witness whereof the delegates have affixed their signatures to this protocol. Done at The Hague June 25, 1914, in a single instrument, which shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the Netherlands, and copies of which, duly certified, shall be forwarded through diplomatic channels to all the Powers, whether Signatory or not Signatory.

[Signatures.]

[Inclosure 2-Translation.]

Protocol relative to putting into effect the International Opium Convention. The undersigned, having been authorized by their respective Governments in pursuance of the provision in III of the Final Protocol of the Third International Opium Conference, declare that their Governments, having ratified the International Opium Convention of January 23, 1912, intend to put it into effect.

For the Powers that sign the protocol before December 31, 1914, the convention will go into effect on that date; for the Powers that sign the Protocol after Decembr 31, 1914, the convention will go into effect on the day of signature.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE NETHERLANDS IN RELATION TO OIL INTERESTS IN MEXICO.

(See Mexico: Protection of American oil interests, etc.)