APPENDIX IV.
354
TELEGKAM FROM BRITISH. MINISTER, PF'ING, 1-th OCTOBER, 1926.
#
My immediately preceding telegram.
Following received from Canton No.90, begins:-
HongKong acheme to be effective would entail
destruction of villages and native craft as actual
pirates could probably not be identified, This would
lay us open to charge of barbarous treatment of
innocent villagers.
I sugrest as an alternative that we occupy Blas
Bay with small garrison, at the same time giving Canton
government public undertaking to withdraw it as soon
as it can be replaced by a permanent garrison of
Chinese troops..
If this is not feasible then I think Hongkong
schome is better than doing nothing.
In either case action should come immediately
after piracy of a British ship by this gaE- I
recommend, however, that I be authorised to inform
Cantoni govemment forthwith that action decided on
will be taken after next piracy unless they act in
the meantime.
I have already urged in vain that Ganton govern-
ment should seek British co-operation in dealing with
this menace, but threat of independent action may have
some effect.
I have askel Governor of Hongkong to send you
information regarding Hsin-fung.
*
Appendix V.
(xxiii)