Enclosure No.4.
148
From H.M.Minister
Peking
To Governor Hong Kong
Dated 30th May 1928.
R.
Addressed to Canton No.96. Repeated to Foreign Office,
Hong Kong and C. in C.
Your telegram to Hong Kong of the 29th May. Piracy
of the s.s."Tean".
Do I understand that you now advocate independent British action failing effective Chinese anti-piracy
measures ?
(2) If so, what form should it take ?
(3) Your telegram No.102 and your despatch No.192
both of last year addressed to (? Peking give) strong
reasons against it. Prima facie they apply now with
equal force; and the present system of naval patrol
seems to me at a distance as effective as anything
else we are likely to devise. What alternative do
you suggest ?
(4) Pending your reply I am suspending answering to
Hong Kong telegram of the 28th May or (?) referring
to the C. in C.
Canton No.96 of the 30th.
Telegram No.73 of the 30th.