No. 2
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury,-(Received September 18.)
No.
237.)
Peking, August 3, 1892446 Lord,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 226 of the 24th ultimo, I have the honour to inclose copies of further correspondence which has passed between this Legation & Tsung-li Yamên on the subject of the piracy of the British steamer Woonstead.
OCT 99
antou.
As the Chinese Government seem incapable of an honest effort to cope with the prevalence of piracy on the waters of the Canton Province, I would respectfully submit to your Lordship that the time has now come to consider seriously some measures of self-protection for British shipping in that part of the Chinese Empire. A patrol of the Canton waters by British vessels of war of light draught would have an excellent effect, especially if the Commanders were authorized, under due restrictions, to take active measures against any offenders detected in any overt act.
It is evident, from the despatches of Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, that it is hopeless to expect any effective action from the Canton Viceroy, and the Tsung-li Yamên tacitly decline to interfere with his control of provincial matters.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
P.S. August 7.--I have just received a despatch from Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, dated the 26th July, copy of which, he informs me, has been forwarded direct to your Lordship, giving further details of the prevalence of piracy and robbery in his district.
591
H. O. B.-I.
DI. les Ministres,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Tsung-li Yamên.
Peking, July 25, 1899.
ON the 18th February last Sir Claude MacDonald addressed your Highness and your Excellencies on the subject of the outrages of pirates in Canton waters. This scandalous evil has not yet been eradicated.
I have now received a representation from Her Majesty's Consul, Canton, to the following effect :-
"On the 23rd May the steamer 'Wo-on,' belonging to the British firm of Baker & Co., was seized by a band of twenty-four robbers at Kumchuk, near to Kongmoon. These robbers took from the steamer goods, money, and arms to the value of ... dollars. Of this amount, 2,000 dollars represented the property of steamer, and ... dollars the property of Chinese passengers. I at once requested the Governor-General to have the robbers captured and the booty recovered, but though his Excellency replied that he had given stringent orders to that effect, nothing had been done. On the 10th July I received your instructions by telegraph to request the Governor-General to instruct the local authorities concerned to make good "the amount of the losses of the steamer, 2,000 dollars as a punishment for their neglect of duty, and a warning for their guidance.
"On the 12th July I called upon the Governor-General, who absolutely declined to discuss the question of compensation. I have, therefore, the honour to report the case to you.
I have the honour to observe that with regard to the daily increasing piracy in Canton Province it was stated in the despatch from this Legation above quoted, that unless measures were immediately taken to prevent such outrages, report would have to be made to Her Majesty's Government as to taking steps to protect British interests.