Anti-Piracy Guards.
Report of Meeting held on 24th March.
61
The Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty, on
24th March, gave an interview to representatives of Messrs.
John wire, The British India Steam Navigation Company, The
Indo-China Steam Navigation Company, the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company and the Officers' (Merchant Navy) Federation.
Sir Gilbert Grindle, K.C...G., C.B., representing the
Colonial Office, Colonel Liddell, representing the War Office
and Mr. Marker, representing the Board of Trade, were also
present.
The greater part of the meeting was devoted to discussion of the Cabinet decision? The Parliamentary
Secretary made it quite clear that this would not be altered.
The following points, ho ever, came up: -
1. The Cabinet, in laying down that the shipping
Companies must "before 1st April agree to accept an
elaboration of the present scheme under which indian guards
are made available by the Colonial police authorities", did
not intend to tie the Companies down as to the method of
protection which they adopted. They only required to be
convinced that the Companies were getting on with the task
of organising a satisfactory method of protection.
2. The Ship Owners pointed out that sometimes ten to
twelve men with an officer were provided as guards, especially
The on the Singapore boats. Must they pay for all these? War Office representative replied that this was a matter for arrangement between them and the General Officer Commanding.
3. The Ship Owners laid special emphasis on the need
for disciplinary control over the guarda. They urged that,
if