White Slave Traffic

The new convention was not intended to replace the earlier instruments, but to supplement them, and it is for that reason that the first article prescribes that the high contracting parties, if not already parties to the agreement of 1904 and the convention of 191o, shall ratify or adhere to them without delay. Other new provisions in the convention are that the punishments prescribed under the convention of 1910 for those who traffic in women and girls are made applicable to those who engage in the traffic of children of either sex. The punishment is required not only of those guilty of offences committed, but of attempts to commit the offence and, within legal limits, of acts preparatory to the com mitting of such offence. The minimum age under which it is an offence to procure a woman for immoral purposes, even with her consent, previously fixed at 20, 1s raised to 21. In addition, the provisions of the convention of 1921 relating to extradition go further than those of the convention of 191o, the parties agreeing that in cases where no extradition convention exists between two countries, they will take all measures in their power to extradite or provide for the extradition of persons accused or convicted of certain offences specified under the convention of 191o. They also undertake to prescribe such regulations as are required for the protection of women and children seeking employment in an other country, if they have not already done so.

The Advisory Committee.

Another outcome of the confer ence of 1921 was the setting up of an advisory committee to the Council on all matters relating to the traffic in women and chil dren. This committee sat for the first time in June 1922. It was composed of delegates of Governments, and of assessors appointed by international voluntary organizations. During its six meetings it had under special consideration the questions of employment of women abroad by theatrical, variety, concert and cinema agents, the moral welfare of women and children on emigrant ships; the consideration of the system of licensed houses; the employment of women police, and the consideration of the laws and regula tions in force in various countries for suppressing the traffic.

Of these questions, one which has been given much importance is that of the system of the licensed house. Though it may be maintained that the regulation of vice in any country is purely an internal and national question, it was the opinion of a large num ber of members on the advisory committee that the licensed house stimulates immorality and encourages an international trade to supply a certain market. The committee gave special attention to the subject, and as a result of its investigations, the Council "recognizing the connection which may exist between a system of licensed houses and the traffic in women and children," invited States which had abandoned the system to explain the motives of their decision in abandoning it, in so far as they concern the traf fic; and States which still maintain the system to indicate whether their experience leads them to believe that the system encourages the international traffic or otherwise.

The majority of answers received appear to indicate a strong movement for the abolition of the licensed house system, which some of the new States created by the Treaty of Versailles adopted and subsequently abandoned. The reasons given by these States and others for this abolition are various. It is said, for ex ample, by some that the system has not justified expectation, and has tended to disseminate rather than diminish venereal disease. It is the opinion given by more than one State that the licensed brothel has proved itself to be a permanent factor in the traffic in women and children, in fact that the traffic owes its very life to the existence of the licensed brothel. The Dutch Government, in giving the reasons for the abolition of the system of regulation in that country, state that experience has shown that the traffic de pends on the existence of the licensed brothel and that its abolition has almost killed the traffic. On the other hand certain countries, in replying, say that they maintain the system in the interests of public health. This is sometimes qualified by the statement that there is an obvious contradiction existing between the system of tolerance and the higher end of the State, or that the State has de cided to give the matter serious attention in view of the growing public opinion in favour of abolition, and in other reports it is said that although the system is maintained, a scheme is in course of preparation for its suppression.

The Expert Investigation, 1924-1926.

To ascertain the extent of the world's traffic, the routes which it follows and the individuals or organizations connected with it, a small body of experts was nominated to make a world investigation on the spot with the consent of and in conjunction with the Governments concerned. This investigation was financed by the American Bureau of Social Hygiene.

The experts were chosen on the ground of special knowledge and qualifications, irrespective of nationality, the Social Section of the League of Nations supplying the secretarial assistance.

The principles laid down in conducting the enquiry were as follows: (a) The enquiries must be carried on only by trained and experi enced persons ; (b) Each enquiry should relate to a limited area ; (c) Each enquiry should be detailed and thorough ; (d) The enquiries should be begun, as far as possible, in cities and countries to which women are alleged to have been sent for purposes of prostitution.