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landing parties had visited thres villages immom to harbour
pirates, and had destroyed nouses. This had had a good
result. There had been no piracy for sometime, and before
the next outbreak of it he had received a petition from
the inhabitants of Bisa Bay urging that efforts be made to
empture the pirates afloat. A oruiser nad been sent but
had not remained long enough and the next piracy occurred
the day after her departure. In the next expedition, in
order to encourage the villagers to give away pirate moves,
only those houses sere picked out for destruction which
were known to belong to piratea. The villagers expressed
their gratitude for this. that fɔrm the next expedition
would take was not determined.
It was difficult to clean
up pirate houses only. About 8) of them had been located,
but they were scattered over a large area. The inforg-
ation obtained had been given to the Canton Authorities
but a Cantonese official, sent to make enquiries, nad
reported that the place was too dangerous for him to stay
there. A Chinese gunboat had been sent into the bay, but
merely levied protection money and on the eve of the next
piracy departed out of harm's way. It was clear therefore
that any hope of cooperation with the Cantonese Authorities,
without some pressure, could be dismissed.
In reply to a question, Sir C. Clementi said
that there nad been many British protests but no united
International protest.
sir . Lampson suggested that a joint protest
should be made and that it should be coupled with an offer
of cooperation.
Mona. de kartel suggested that it might be made
worth while for the Chinese Authorities to take action by
holding them responsible for damage arising out of piracy
and demanding indemnification.
sir M. Lampson