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as it will become quickly known to the pirates that such steamers do not carry armed guards. Underwriters, can, of course, protect themselves by refusing to cover the risk of piracy in their insurances on thecargo or vessels in question, or alternatively can arrange to cover such risk of piracy only at a greatly enhanced rate of premium; but this of course would naturally have a serious effect on trade by British steamers in those waters. If the owners of the steamors were not prepared to pay the rates asked to cover the risk of piracy, nor to run their vessels uninsured in respect of that risk, many of their vessels would no doubt be laid up, and as regards cargo, the tendency would be more and more to ship same by vessels of such nationalities as did provide armed guards. On the other hand, if British merchants continue to ship by such vessels as are prepared to continue trading without armed protection, the increased rates charged for the insurance of their goods would put them at a disadvantage with their competitors and the reduced demand for British goods ould have its resultant effects not only out in China but also on the unemployment question.at home.
While we urge the essential importance of maintaining armed guards on British ships, we realize that owing to troop movements, guards of soldiers, marines or sailors may not be permanently available, and as a fairly efficient substitute the following suggestion
occurs to us.-
That..
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