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Keppel for a scheme of joint action between British and Chinese Cruisers for suppression of Piracy, and the permanent stationing of a Chinese vessel of War in the harbor for that purpose.
2.
The undersigned does not think that Her Majesty's Government should enter into any such arrangement without a reliable assurance of reciprocity from the Chinese Government.
I do not think Your Lordship should agree to the proposal made by Admiral Keppel, as we should only burden ourselves with obligations for which we may not get reciprocity.
3.
I have not received a more reliable report on the subject than Sir Rutherford Alcock's despatch No. 59 of the 6th April last to Admiral Keppel, which was transmitted in Your Lordship's despatch, and I entirely agree with Sir Rutherford in thinking that however justly the Chinese Government may be held responsible for the suppression of Piracy, there is a wide difference between an engagement to co-operate and effective co-operation.
More has been done, I believe, by this Government, notwithstanding its limited means, to suppress Piracy than by the Chinese Government in the last three years, and nevertheless almost every engagement in which reciprocal action was promised by the latter, such as that by which vessels were to be disarmed and certain ports forbidden, has been quietly disregarded by the Chinese. Things may be different fifty years hence, but at present I...