[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
9034
CHINA TRADE.
[February 19.]
RECD
&
CONFIDENTIAL.
E21 MAR 00
SECTION 2.
483
No. 1.
Sir C. MacDonald to the Marquess of Salisbury.--(Received February 19, 1900.)
(No. 346.) My Lord,
Peking, December 18, 1899. IN continuation of my despatch No. 335 of the 6th instant, I have the honour to transmit herewith to your Lordship translation of the reply which I have received from the Tsung-li Yamên to the note in which I urged that the Viceroy of Canton should be instructed to co-operate with the British authorities in suppressing piracy on the lower waters of the West River.
The Yamên express their appreciation of the friendly feeling underlying what they profess to regard as a kind offer of assistance on the part of the Governor of Hong Kong to the Viceroy at Canton, but they decline the proposed co-operation on the ground that it would interfere with the jurisdiction of the Chinese authorities, and that the instruc- tions issued to the Viceroy would ensure adequate protection to life and property in the province for the future,
In a second note, translation of which I have also the honour to inclose, the Yamén communicate the substance of an Imperial Rescript commanding the Chinese local authorities to take action to suppress piracy in the district concerned.
(Translation.) Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed) CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
The Tsung-li Yamén to Sir C. MacDonald.
Peking, December 11, 1899. WE have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note of the 4th December, on the subject of piracy on the West River.
[Note summarised.]
In view of the serious outbreaks of piracy in the Province of Kuangtung, and of the injury that has been inflicted thereby on trade, telegraphic instructions have been repeatedly sent to the high authorities of the province to give strict orders to the civil and military officers in their jurisdiction to institute a close and effective patrol of the district with the forces under their command, and to use all diligence in arresting the offenders.
Some time ago, in connection with the case of piracy on the British steamship "Wo-on 23
at Kumchuk near Kongmoon, we were informed by telegram from the Governor-General of the Liang Kuang Provinces (Viceroy at Canton) that eight pirates altogether had been captured and put to death. There had been no lack of energy in effecting arrests, but the pirates were in the habit of disguising themselves as ordinary passengers, and surreptitiously armed with guns, of taking passage on steamers to await their opportunity to plunder. This was a practice against which the military police were powerless to guard; and the Consuls ought to give orders to foreign steamers to search passengers for concealed weapons, and not to take passengers on board en route, in order We had the honour to to prevent pirates from obtaining an entrance on to the vessels. address a note to Mr. Bax-Ironside to the above effect on the 10th September last.
The proposal now made by Her Majesty's Government to invite the co-operation of the Viceroy at Canton in suppressing piracy, gives ample evidence of friendly feeling. But the lower waters of the West River are under the jurisdiction of the Viceroy at Canton, and it is for the local authorities to undertake the necessary measures of pacifi- cation and suppression. It is not therefore necessary for the Governor of Hong Kong to offer his assistauce in the matter, a proceeding which would cause some difficulties to Chinese administration.
[1810 -2]