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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
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AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[3364]
No. 1.
498
6.
6100
Rece R. 20 FEB 08! [January 30.)
SECTION 1.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Admiralty to Foreign Office.--(Received January 30.)
Admiralty, January 29, 1908. · I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a letter, dated the 27th ultimo, together with its inclosures, which has been received from the Commander-in-chief on the China Station, respecting the British patrol in the West River and Canton Delta.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
C. I. THOMAS.
Sir,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Admiral Sir A. Moore to Admiralty.
King Alfred," at Hong Kong, December 27, 1907.
IN continuation of my submission of the 13th instant, I have the bonour to forward, for their Lordships' information, copies of further correspondence and telegrams relative to our patrol of the Canton Delta and the efforts which are being made to settle the "piracy question," &c.
2. Our augmented patrol in the West River and Canton Delta waterways continues, and appears to be effective in its object in protecting British trade, as no cases of robbery or piracy have been reported since its institution. The Taku" has been withdrawn, her services as wireless telegraph connecting ship being no longer required. I have commissioned torpedo-boat 037, and placed her in the West River.
The " Virago and "Otter temporarily relieve the destroyers patrolling, from time to time, when it is necessary for them to return to Hong Kong to coal and give leave.
3. Mass meetings are occasionally held at Canton, and the Viceroy has reiterated that our patrol is an infringement of China's sovereign rights and requested our withdrawal, but, on the whole, local excitement caused by our action appears to be subsiding, and the officers commanding our gun-boats report that the attitude of the populace along the rivers is on the whole friendly.
4. The Senior Naval Officer at Canton reports that Admiral Li has been appointed to reorganize the Chinese preventive service both afloat and ashore, and that there is every indication that the provincial authorities are making a serious attempt to place the policing of the waterways on a satisfactory footing, The Wai-wu Pu have informed the British Minister that they propose to place the preventive service under officers of the old Peiyang squadron, trained by Admiral Lang, and to employ midshipmen recently trained in His Majesty's ships.
His Majesty's Minister requested my views on this proposal, stating that he was inclined to recommend it, and I bave concurred therein, as there is not the slightest possibility of our carrying our original proposal, that a certain number of fast launches should be officered and controlled by the Imperial Maritime Customs Service, both Sir Robert Hart and the Commissioner of Customs at Canton being antagonistic towards that scheme.
5. As regards the "Sainam" compensation claim, the Viceroy continues obdurate in his refusal to recognize such claim, but he has intimated his willingness to pay a "compassionate" allowance. In a telegram received yesterday from His Majesty's Minister (copy herewith) the latter conveys his opinion that, if possible, the Consul- General should arrange payment in settlement of the case without giving it any designation, and that we should accept no formula which prevented the case forming a precedent.
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