[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
493
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
(2715)
No. 1.
6160
[January 25.
¡Rec
20 FEB 08.
SECTION 2.
(No. 581.) Sir,
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received January 25, 1908.)
Peking, December 12, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 557 of the 27th November, and subsequent telegrams regarding the initiation by Admiral Moore of an extended system of patrol in the Canton waters for the protection of the British flag against piracy, I have the honour to inclose a translation of a letter which I received from the Wai-wu Pu on the 8th December, complaining of this action as an infringement of China's sovereign rights, and a copy of my reply, dated the 11th December, in which I have stated that the patrol will be withdrawn when the claim for the "Sainam" piracy is paid, and when the local authorities have taken effective measures themselves to suppress piracy.
From the moderate tone in which the Wai-wu Pu frame their complaint, and from the fact that they have not alluded in conversation to this subject for some weeks, I think it probable that they view without much displeasure the pressure which is being applied to the province, and it would appear from Mr. Mansfield's information embodied in my telegram No. 212 of the 8th December, that the presence of the British vessels is having a salutary effect.
Whatever may be the result of this step, the attention which has been bestowed on the general subject of piracy in Canton waters during the past few months has brought to the surface the urgent necessity of revising existing Regulations as to registration of launches under the British flag. In regard to this question I had the honour to address you in my despatch No. 552 of the 24th November, and I have received from Admiral Moore a copy of his letter to the Admiralty of the 28th November, dealing with the necessity for revised Regulations.
I am glad to say that an opportunity now presents itself for the matter being considered on the spot by the Judge of His Majesty's Supreme Court. I learn privately from Sir Haviland de Sausmarez that he is to spend Christmas at Hong Kong, and I have requested him by telegram to be so good as to pay a visit to Canton and examine the question in consultation with Mr. Mansfield, His Majesty's Consul-General.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
J. N. JORDAN.
(Translation.) Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Wai-wu Pu to Sir J. Jordan.
December 8, 1907.
WE have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Viceroy at Canton telegraphed on the 5th instant to the effect that His Majesty's Consul-General had verbally notified the Deputy in charge of the local foreign Bureau of the intention of the British Admiral to dispatch gun-boats to the West River to protect the shipping in that region. The search for arms in passengers' luggage would be confined to vessels flying the British flag; no other vessel would be interfered with. With reference to this question, we have the honour to remind your Excellency of the Board's Memorandum of the 11th November embodying the telegraphic proposals of the Viceroy for new Police Regulations, which were to be put into effect without fail.
Having regard to the extremely friendly relations between our respective countries, the authorities of the Province of Canton have been actually engaged in putting the new Regulations into effect, and putting the police system on a reorganized basis, which should suffice to reassure the mercantile community and eradicate piracy. Moreover, the British Admiral had previously addressed a despatch to the Viceroy expressing his pleasure at seeing progress being made. The local authorities ought, therefore, to have been allowed to make their own arrangements.
[2818 bb-2)