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the suppression of piracy on the inlant waters game within your provinge, and that he himself had no authority to deprive you of any of your povere. I then asked whether, if you were agreeable to the employment of feraign Customs #tricers, Nia Excelloney would raise any ohjastion. Hin reply ras in the negativa.Both my Vice-Consul and I
remember this distinctly, and I feel sure that Kr Lo, the Viceroy's interpreter,will do so too.
In view of the utter insufficiency and uselessnes
up to the present of the guardboats and launches used to
patrol the waterways, it would be hard to convince the Foreign Powers that the suheme you propose will be really effective, and I Aust ask you to reconsider the quastion of employing "Customa Officers as branosed by me. Robbery and småggling are orimes which go hand in hand and there is no impropriety in joint measures for their suppressi n.You say that you have "never heard of any regulations under
which the Imperial et or Provincial Governmente have employed foreign offioare in the capacityk of a patrol-guard* On this I would remark that within my recollection in 1974 under the Government of Viceroy Jui-Lin ( ) his gunbosta
the "Cuitsing","inlan**Chento", "$7ianpo" and others Vero all commanded by foreign officers and they completely put down the piratas who were rempant on the sea-coast of Krangtung. The foreign officers employed wore nominatod to Hin Excellency for Appointment by the then British Consul.
It cannot therefore ba said that there is no precedent for
my present proposal.
I avail,sto.
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