The control of apium and dangerous drugs traffic on international lines has developed two tendencies: first, to centralize control in an international organism, and. secondly, to strike di-Feclly at production, leaving as sec~ ondary the consideration of control of the trae. These tendencies have been apparent ever since the League of Nations adopted the management fof the problem, but they also form the principles on which international attention was focussed from 1907, when The Hague Conference first tackled the problem of setting up an International Commission. Central control will in the future be further Geveloped by the Supervisory Body. For the existing organization is not powerful enough to make it fully effective so long as national administrations obtain enough absolute discretion to prevent perfectly ce-ordinated action, "The problem of production 1s, most directly dealt with in regard to the manufacture of drugs, and it is to be extended in future to the actual production of opium, Mr. Elsenloht Attempts in this valuable book to discuss the future with these objects view. His book is divided Into two paris. The first deals with the organization of international control, and the second with the control of Board been functioning since raw opium production. The Central
January, 1929, The author considers that the Board has been greatly helped by the strength of public opinion, and on that point he' commends the Conference for the limitation of drug manufacture which di-redly arose out of the recommenda tons to the Assembly of the Leagu of Nations. He finds that the attitude of most governments has. sensibly Gltered ant thou which were ome opinion should in some way be offi laily recognized and united. to. the
of formulating policy. Those laymen Advisory Commitee for the purposes who know: the drug question thoroughly and have an informed interest in international control are, he considers, best qualified to represent the general public whose concern is only that it should be provided with an adequate medical drug supply and protected against ilicit traffic. The Appeals of the medical profession as well as the international health organizations and the agricultural Interests should also bear their part} In this work of humanitarian reform; and those organizations which in the Far East are attempting to eliminate the colum smoking are considered to be. suitable associates in the work. Thus the author considers the world would be provided with a body which would reflect broadly every Important spect of the narcotics problem and Tetain the flexibility and im-Dartiality "necessary to grasp the Widest view of the subject—rm.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.