Show CHINAS CHINA'S ll S 'S OPIUM EDICT ElICT St. St Ht Louis 1 Post Dispatch The he edict forbidding the traffic in opium Is the thc first step b by the Chinese government to undo the evil evi work o of the English opium dealers In whose Interests Great Gleat Britain made war wal upon the Flowery Flower Kingdom in 1840 1540 18 At that time the public opinion o of the world Ill The was f protest protest protest pro pro- test o of th the Chinese e attracted no at attention attention attention at- at and when the they accepted war rather than allow alow the drug to be Imported Im Im- Im- Im ported portel the they received no sympathy But nut China Chinn will wi have the moral support support support sup sup- port of oC the tho whole world In her hel present acton action Even the British o g governing classes casleR do not Justl Justify the unclean trade J And nd the opium Interests will wi probably be b unable to enlist the government gov gov- O in their cau cause e as aR In 1840 The treaty forced upon China Chinn as a result resul of o the opium war Is o of course set aside b by this edict Tho The Inviolability inviolability inviola Inviola- of oC treaties Is an nn article of faith with nil all ni civilized peoples They must be terminated b by the proper legal procedure But nut in this case few will care A treat treaty frankly founded upon immorality Is not nol likely to be he p held sacred even by the most rigid sticklers for International good faith |