COPY.
Enclosure 4.
93
Translation of letter from H. E. A. Sanches de lirenda, Acting Governor of Macao, to His Excellency the Governor
of Hongkong.
5th. September, 1912.
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to acknowledge wita thanks
the receipt of two letters which Your Excellency das had the kind- -ness to send me, one marked "Confidential" of the 30th. August received by post and the other marked "Secret" of coday's date delivered by Ir. Clau Severn, Colo dal Secretary of Hongkong.
I must in the first place thank you for the captivating words of praise waich Your Excellency has been pleased to employ about the endeavours unde by the Goverment of liacao for seizing the arms robbed by the pirates from the English Police at Cheung Chau and the capture of several pirates connected with the attack and the murders perpetrated on the said Island.
In the letter of the 30t.1. August Your Excel- -lency states that you are informed that it is proposed to make an expedition against the pirates taking refuge on Taipe Island. I must say immediately (desde já) that the Portuguese Islend of Taipa is perfectly policed by Portuguese troops and that up to this moment no pirates have sought shelter on that island, and it could never be possible to think of sending an expedition to the Island of Taipa as it would be quite unnecessary.
It is my conviction that the majority of these desperadoes are sheltered on the Chinese Islands which lie to the
South-West of the mouth of the Si-Kiang (Vest River) as well as in some of the villages situated on the borders of wis river, shown in detail to the two English Officers, who were sent to me by Your Excellency, Captain Crosse, R.A. and Lieut. Stainer, R.H., and
not.
who