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i
In this connection, we would mention that the Commander-in-Chief, China, reported on the 17th January that the Indian guards on board during the piracy of the "Haiching fully justified the reliance which the Douglas Steamship Company put in them, and it does not appear that a British guard of equal numbers could have done more.'
1
Further, we understand that the Colonial Government are quite willing to continue this system. It will, of course, be necessary to make provision for depots of guards at places other than Hong Kong, such as Singapore and Shanghai.
6.
We fully agree with the stipulation contained in (a) (ii) above that the full cost of any naval and military guards supplied after the 31st March should be borne by those Shipping Companies which employ them.
(b) That any practicable scheme should emanate from the Shipping Companies, but the Committee suggest that, in order to expedite progress, His Majesty's Government might inform the ship owners, both in London and in Hong Kong, that they would be willing to advise them, and to consider farourably any application for the services of retired naval and military officers and other ranks.
If our previous recommendation is accepted, consideration of conclusion (b) is unnecessary.
8. "(c) That any organization which is set up should ultimately be independent of the Imperial and Colonial authorities, and that the whole cost, including that of initiating the scheme, should be borne by the Companies in proportion" to their demands on it."
As already stated, we consider that the Colonial authorities should continue to assist in the provision of Indian guards, but we fully agree that the whole cost of the elaborated scheme, including that of maintaining the guards when on shore, should be borne by the Companies in proportion to their demands on it.
CONCLUSIONS.
9. Our conclusions may be summed up as follows:-
(a) If the continuance of the regular naval and military guards for a further definitely limited period is ordered by the Cabinet, it should be subject to the following conditions:-
(1) That the Shipping Companies agree before the 1st April to accept an elaboration of the present scheme under which Indian guards are made available by the Colonial Police authorities for the internal protection of shipping.
(ii) That any regular guards supplied after the 31st March should be paid
for in full by the Shipping Companies.
(b) We consider that the whole cost of the elaborated scheme, including that of maintaining the Indian guards when not actually employed on board ship. should be borne by the Companies in proportion to their demands on it.'
2. Whitehall Gardens, S.W. 1,
March 11, 1930.
(Signed)
G. F. MILNE. CHARLES E. MADDEN. J. M. SALMOND.
SECRET.
. O.D.C. 585-M.]
ANNEXURE.
COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
OVERSEA DEFENCE COMMITTEE.
Piracy in China Waters.
Memorandum by the Oversea Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence.
THE Colonial Office have referred to the Oversea Defence Committee for consideration a telegram (Appendix), dated the 21st February, 1930, from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong, dealing with the question of anti-piracy guards for shipping in China waters.
2. The whole subject of piracy in China waters was, at the instance of the Chief of the Naval Staff, discussed by the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee over a year ago, and a report (C.I.D. Paper No. 330-C) was submitted to the Committee of Imperial Defence.
3. The conclusions of the Chiefs of Staff were as follows:-
"(a) We are convinced that no satisfactory action for the protection of vessels against piracy is possible without the whole-hearted co-operation of the shipowners. This is at present lacking. We therefore suggest that pressure should be brought to bear through the medium of the interested parties, or by legislation, to make the shipowners responsible for the protection of their ships and passengers so long as it is within their power to do so, and to cause them to implement as far as is practicable those recommendations of the Sunning Commission which concern them. The following steps we consider to be of particular importance :—
(i) Improvement in the conditions of service in shipping companies so as to attract the best type of personnel. An increase of British personnel in the complement of vessels appears to be desirable. (ii) Fitting of protection to the bridge and other vital positions in the
ship. (iii) The employment of guards, which might be organized at other ports besides Hong Kong, and which should be rendered as efficient as possible.
We fully realise that these proposals are likely to be fought by the companies on the grounds of expense, and also on the excuse that the fitting of protection to the bridge, &c., may contravene the Board of Trade regulations regarding access to boats.
(b) We suggest that the compradore, who is the keystone of the whole structure of shipping trade in China, should, if possible, be given a real interest in preventing pirates from coming ou board. At the same time, it is realised that steps likely to incur the hostility of the compradore might seriously affect the companies' interests.
In any case, a more rigid examination of passengers on embarkation and during the voyage would appear worthy of consideration. [20735] [20762]
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