| Summary: | Loophole in Anti-Drug Ring Seen in Nations Outside Pact Loophole in Anti-Drug Ring Seen in Nations Ootside Pact By a Staff Correspondent of the Christian Science Monitor LONDON —A loophole in the League's world-wide ring against the international traffickers in narcotics—better known as "dope merchants"—is pointed out by the British Home Office. It appears that a few countries— which are not named—are still outside the international system of supervision and annual quotas which the League has devised to banish the illicit traffic. The League method is to keep the total world production of narcotics down to the annual medical requirements so that no surplus can get into the hands of the international traffickers. Determined Watch Kept True, British exports to these countries are inconsiderable. And in any case—the latest British report to the League disclosing the fact is careful to add—a determined watch is kept on this trade. Furthermore, government export licenses are refused whenever "it would appear that legitimate requirements are being exceeded." The report adds, however, that this method—described as the best that can be devised in the circumstances—is "far from satisfactory," as the amounts of dangerous drugs imported to such countries from other countries are not known. Seven Countries Fail to Act Unlike the reticence of the British report, the latest League publication discloses the fact that seven countries have still not yet adhered to its two drug control conventions of 1925 and 1931 and are therefore not bound by them. They are Argentina, Paraguay, Albania, Iceland, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopian and Liberia. Reviewing the system of control which has been established here to give effect to the Hague and Geneva conventions, the report records that it has worked satisfactorily. Under this system imports and exports of opium and other narcotics are government-controlled by means of import certificates and export authorization. Occasionally, difficulties have arisen owing to the use of language other than English or French, the two official League languages. Exchange of Information The drugs branch of the Home Office has continued to "co-operate successfully" with the central authorities of other countries, notably the United States, Canada, Egypt, the Netherlands and France, by interchanging information on the illicit traffic. There has been no evidence of any organized illicit traffic in Britain during 1935. Such cases as there were individual attempts on the part of seamen, mainly orientals, smuggle in small quantities for their compatriots living in the United Kingdom. Decrease in Violations Such cases decreased from 3 1934 to 11 in 1935. In the official detailed list of these seizures the owner of the drug is more often than not referred to as a "Chinese sailor," "unknown greaser," "Chinese fireman's boy." Into this undistinguished collection a "Russian film art director" apparently strayed quite innocently by importing through the ordinary parcel post from Paris for medical treatment 40 milligrams of heroin— an offense for which he was not prosecuted. Used in Patent Medicines The extensive use of opium and other narcotics in patent medicines is shown in the fact that in 1935, 21 persons were licensed by the Government to possess such drugs for the purpose of "manufacturing patent and special medicines." On the other hand, there were only 700 drug addicts in the whole of Britain in 1935—out of a total population of 47,000,000 persons. About 120, or one sixth, of these addicts were members of the medical profession. In 90 per cent morphine was the drug of addiction. In all cases the drug was obtained through legitimate channels. The report adds that addiction to narcotic drugs is not prevalent in Britain.
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