Simla, May 25, The Viceroy, Lord Irwin, opening, conference to-day of representatives of 40 Indian States to discuss measures to suppress the opium evil in the States, emphasized that India iwas bound by international undertakings for the ultimate suppression lof opium smoking, the limitation and control of export and the prevention of illicit opium traffic to the Far East.
The Government of India's policy, the Viceroy declared, did not ain Jat prohibition, but at moderation: they had formulated a tentative policy involving the ultimate dis-Jcontinuance of poppy cultivation in the States and the supply of opium, in accordance with their requirements by the Government of India, fat cost price, from the Ghazipur factory Basil Blackett, financial ad-isser to the conference, pointed out, that the Government' of India's finances could not benefit by the!
discontinuance of cultivation "of opium in the States. The policy of maximum revenue from minimum leon sumption, he had proved astonishingly satisfactory in British India and he saw no reason why the Jsame policy was not feasible for the States, as such a policy would facilitate the absorption of old Jstocks and diminish the incentive smuggle.
Though two days had been allotted, for discussion, the conference concluded to-day. It is understood to have adopted without modification the Government of India's policy Jand to have agreed that a committee [should be appointed by the Government of India to tour the various States and to make a report—Reu.- ter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.