International Efforts to Control Narcotics

Abstract

Although opium was apparently known to the ancient Sumerians and narcotic bearing plants were used by early inhabitants of the American continents, little is known of trade in these items.' Early land trade of the Arabs brought opium to China during the reign of Taitsu, 1280-1295, and later to Persia and India. The earliest sea trade known is that of the Chinese junks that sailed to Malaya for opium grown there.2 While the earliest European trade in opium is attributed to the Portuguese who traded with China about 1729, it appears that the English, through the East India Company, engaged in the trade after the victory of Clive at Plassy in 1757. Nor was the United States of America to be guiltless, for the fastest of American clipper ships came to be used in the oriental trade. Even though the trade was illegal, many local Chinese officials tolerated it to their profit. The Imperial Manchu Government objected but the trade continued. In March, 1839, The Emperor ordered the Chinese Commissioner to Canton, Lin Tse-hsu, to stop the trade and order all opium in Canton to be seized. The British agents withdrew to the Island of Hongkong and Portuguese Macao.3 The infamous Opium War followed. The result was that in 1842 Britain forced China to cede Hongkong, pay for the opium seized at Canton and allow the opium trade to continue at five specified ports. The British sale of opium reversed the previously unfavorable trade balance with China. By shipping opium from India to the Celestial Empire, they had a product to exchange for tea and silk,-and the British must have their tea. The fast clippers of India's Wadia Yards and the American clippers from Boston were in demand for his shipping because their speed eliminated the necessity of naval protection and heavy cannon to defend themselves against the powerful pirate fleets along the Chinese coasts.4 The firs official act by the United States concerning tra e in opium appears to be a treaty with Siam in 1833, in which the United States recognized opium as contraband merchandise. This treaty was further implemented by the treaty with S am of May 29, 1856 in which the United States agreed to restrain American citizens from engaging in the trade.