The other day this journal was dis posed to criticize an extravagant tort made by Mr. D. Kato, who cused Russell Pasha of being. insane owing to the report that the eminent expert on narcotics had declared that vidence had been forthcoming to the effect that Japanese army oticers and soldiers had become drug addicts in the North. Mr.
Kato was, of course, on sound ground in repudiating this charge, for obviously such soldier Would be useless to the army, and ugh it would not be surprising to that Japanese addicts were dis feverable in the North, it is common knowledge that as a rule the Japanese not susceptible to the temptation of drugs. Although the reflection. on \ussell Pasha's sanity was fante cally offensive in "view of that distinguished oMcial's career, itis only (air to Mr. Kato to say' that, apart fr rom the tural resentment' which felt, hho was Justified in suggesting that caution should be displayed. in accepting Russell Pasha's. statements, for it is evident that the information reaching the Pasha from the North of China is by no means above suspicion, This was made very plain 500 when he permitted himself to say that kilos of heroin were exported Weekly {rom Japanese concessions. in China, chiefly to America, That statement is considered by authorities here, who are beyond doubt competent to be wildly wide of the it is most unfortunate that Pasha should have been made th he jctim of what apparently is deliberate misrepresentation of the facts, It is to be hoped that he will see that the sources from which derives his knowledge of the Far Eastern drug traMe are' carefully hecked. It is only fair to Mr, Kato fo make this observation, especially fs It reinforces his contention that Russell Pasha's statement regarding the Japanese army in China cannot As much criticism, being directed towards the Japane ese position in is drug tram, it hould be made clear that the Jape Janese authorities have officially given assurances of their desire operate in suppressing the man facture and illicit sale of drugs, particularly heroin. Admittedly, Japanese Particularly Koreans, are engaged in this trame, and one of the diMeulties with which the Jap: anese have to content is the lightness penalty prescribed by Japanese for drug offences, This is due 10 the fact that the drug habit is not usually contracted by Japanese in loir own country. "It may be ree membered that Mr, Yokoyama, in portant" events and. arrangements The preliminary details of the jin. Which have been tentatively made by the Celebrations Council for the com. memoration of Australia's 150th birthday "next year show that "the Commonwealth "is determined make that anniversary the opportunity for extensive festivities. The acjussuring the Opium' Advisory Com:
lttee that he would draw his gove to the reports regarding the large number of Jap-factories Tientsin, emphasized the fact that in that place Chinese and Japanese in collaboration were helping to reduce the amount of illicit tragic in opium.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.