Naval Forces in the Chinese
Copy
of
Treaty Powers in keeping Seas for the suppression of Piracy, by reason
of their own failure.
I am
also persuaded they will never assent to
any formal proposal to delegate
the Courts at Hongkong judicial powers over
Chinese Pirates taken in
their own
waters;
and that such proposition officially made will create
an unpleasant feeling without answering any useful end.
I have &c.
(signed) B. Alcock
Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of
British Trade in China
Peking
April 6, 1869.
Page 198
Ju 9579/65
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of Your letter of the 20th of March with Enclosures respecting the cooperation of this Naval Forces with those of the Chinese for the repression
of Piracy.
There is little hope, I fear, of any
real and effective cooperation on the part of the Chinese
or Provincial Authorities. As regards their
trade they have never given
themselves
any trouble and always left it to take care
of itself.
Any arrangement therefore that may be concluded, whether with the Governor here or the Viceroy at Fauton,
is likely only to fix us with
our own share of work to be borne
by British cruisers and
leave the Chinese free to neglect their
part. Unless indeed their gunboats
are under the command
of efficient European Officers
The Hon: Sir H. Keppel K.C.B. Admiral