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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.!
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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(Confidential.) Sir,
No. 1.
Admiralty to Foreign Office.-(Received October 5.)
[October 3147
SKOTTON 8.
TREY 29 OCT 07
356
Admiralty, October 3, 1907. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a letter dated the 10th August, with its inclosures, which has been received from the Com- mander-in-chief on the China Station, respecting piracy in the West River.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
C. I. THOMAS.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Vice-Admiral Sir A. Moore to Admiralty.
(Confidential.)
Sir,
"King Alfred," at Hakodate, August 10, 1907.. WITH reference to Admiralty telegram of the 3rd August last on the subject of piracy in the waterways of the West River delta, I have the honour to report as follows, in amplification of my telegram No. 66 of the 5th idem.
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2. On the 15th May last the Senior Naval Officer in the West River was able to report that no cases of piracy affecting British interests had occurred for six months, and that "the energetic attempts at patrolling the river instituted by the Chinese after the piracy of the 'Sainam' are still maintained." He further stated that of the fourteen patrol launches ordered by the Viceroy of Canton two had arrived in the river; they were well found with a speed of 9 knots and well equipped with a good stand of arms, but at present carry no guns (vide China Station submission of the 4th June last).
As will be seen from the inclosed copy of a letter from the Acting British Consul- General at Canton, new Traffic Regulations, specially drawn with a view to the prevention of piracy, have lately been issued by the Chinese authorities at Canton. These Regulations appear to have been carefully thought out.
3. I have throughout advocated the desirability of a certain number of armed patrol launches, commanded by Europeans, being placed in the West River with authority to deal with cases of piracy; this would ensure that the launches under Chinese control are kept up to their work. I understand that the proposition of His Britannic Majesty's Minister to the Chinese Government that six launches should be placed under the control of the Imperial Maritime Customs Service was originally acceded to, but that opposition is now being raised by them. In view, however, of the foregoing facts, it appears that the Chinese authorities are making a determined effort to deal with the situation themselves, and so long as no further case of piracy arises they can argue that their efforts are meeting with success, and I think it would be inopportune and impolitic to put pressure on them at present on the grounds that they are neglecting the duty of policing their own waters.
4. As regards the possibility of our undertaking this duty for them, it would be impossible to do so without suitable vessels. At present we have only three shallow draught gun-boats in the West River, and I have previously pointed out the unsuit- ability of the "Robin" and " Sandpiper." These vessels are too slow, and often in the strong currents of the river can barely make headway.
To carry out the policing of the waters would entail the provision of faster gun- boats, supplemented by small powerful armed launches, which would be used to follow up the pirates in the creeks and to the villages which form their head-quarters. The question of landing armed men in Chinese territory would also arise.
The Chinese authorities are of course perfectly well aware how we are situated in this respect, and unless we are prepared to go to the expense of building or obtaining special vessels, it seems to me unwise to threaten a course of action which we are not in a position to follow.
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