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Colonial Secretary was in favour of refusing protection
to ships flying the British Flag if charges of smuggling
could be brought home to them; even though they might
otherwise be entitled to such protection.
out
The Consul-General set the difficulties of proof
in such cases. It was suggested that smuggling could be largely prevented if the Chinese Maritime Customs, who are
entitled to search British Ships, would do their work properly before ships reach Chinese searching stations
which have no legal right to search.
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right to search. Doubts were expressed
as to the reliability of the Maritime Customs in such a case.
The suggestion was also made that if a ship used
the British flag for smuggling purposes, the Chinese Maritime Customs might at the instance of the British Consul -General refuse to grant it a pass to trade in the West River.
As regards action by the Navy in respect of
British Ships flying the British Flag the Consul -General was anxious that reference to him should be made wherever possible
before Naval action was taken. The Commodore, while insisting
on the necessity of leaving a wide discretion to the Naval Officer on the spot, agreed that the general policy should be that action will be taken if a ship, flying the Britishlag, is fired on, or if British lives are in danger, or the ship is being forcibly moved against her will under arrest by Chinese Authorities. In other cases the Naval Officer-in- Charge will wireless to the Consul -General and wait approval
of any action proposed.