[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.] 463
C.0
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL,
[5693]
No. 1.
9970
[February 20
SECTION 19 MAR 07)
Sir,
Admiralty to Foreign Office.-(Received February 20.)
Admiralty, February 16, 1907. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of Sir Edward Grey, copy of the correspondence inclosed with a letter dated the 31st December, 1906, which has been received from the Commander-in-chief, China, relative to piracies on the West River.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
EVAN MACGREGOR.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Extract from Letter of Proceedings from His Majesty's Ship "Moorhen," dated December 1, 1906.
ON the 6th November, off Howlick, I stopped and boarded the launch "Hong Tat," who was not flying her colours. On examining her papers, I found that her engines were due for survey on the 9th November. The launch at the time was going to Canton, so I ordered her captain to report himself to the Consul-General and apply for a survey, writing on his machinery certificate words to the same effect. When at Canton His Majesty's Consul-General informed me that the launch "Hong Tat" had made no report, nor had the captain heen to the Consulate. I shall be on the Wuchau Division after the 20th instant, and propose to arrest this launch and compel her to carry out my orders; she trades above Wuchau.
R. VAUGHAN,
(Signed)
Lieutenant and Commander.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from Letter of Proceedings from His Majesty's Ship
Canton, December 1, 1906.
<
Robin," dated at
I REMAINED at Canton until Monday, the 19th November, awaiting the arrival of the British launch " Fei Nam," whose movements had aroused suspicion.
On Tuesday, the 29th idem, I received orders to proceed to Shuching to arrest the British launch "Fei Nam,'
3:30 P.M.
I arrived at Shuching at 5:40 P.M., to find the launch had proceeded up-river at I accordingly proceeded in chase and found her just leaving Luk Po, with five junks in tow, at 8:30 P.M. I immediately placed her under an armed guard and anchored for the night on the opposite bank to Luk Po village, the launch securing alongside. I inspected the crew and launch, finding four in excess of complement crew, and the launch herself in an extremely dirty condition. No firearms were carried. I left Luk Po the next morning and proceeded to Samshui, where I reported myself to the Senior Officer, afterwards proceeding to Canton with the "Fei Nam."
His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General, Mr. Mansfield, being ill, the Vice- Consul, Mr. Sly, conducted the inquiry; Mr. Steinberg representing the Customs, and myself representing the Senior Officer.
A copy of the draft of the finding will be forwarded, and I submit that new regulations will now be drawn up which will assist very much in the supervision and protection of British launches. Though Mr. Fraser, the so-called owner of the launch, repeatedly represented that the launch was on her way to Canton, there appears to be no doubt that no steps were taken in the matter, and my arrest of the launch at night
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