594
should be obtained from the Chinese Government for the ade-
quate future policing of the West River and neighbouring
Waters, and if such guarantees were not obtained that the
British Government should take the matter in hand at
China's cost; I have no knowledge of the nature of the
guarantees proposed
C
whether territory or money
C
but in
1
any event it seems doubtful to me whether in such a matter
His Majesty's Government would think fit to proceed except
in concert with other powers. The Hongkong Branch of the
China Association suggest the dismissal of Viceroy Shum;
though this would have the effect of impressing on his
successor his responsibilities the beneficial result of
such supersession would not probably be of long duration.
6.
The most practical and satisfactory way of
dealing with the matter seems to me to be to compel the
Chinese Government to put the water-ways leading to Canton
under the Imperial Maritime Customs for the prevention of
piracy in the same way as they are now under that depart-
ment for the prevention of smuggling. This would ensure
foreign (i.e. Western) control of the suppression service
without derogating from the sovereignty of China, without
raising the opposition from other Western nations which
would result from an attempt at a purely British control
and without giving rise to the friction which would follow
the
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