F 3953/8/10
A. Fenner Brookway, Esq.,M.P.
July
84
I am now able to reply to your letters of
July 14th and 22nd about the provision of
ussian guards on British ships in Chinese
waters.
Briefly, the facts are that, it having been
decided on grounds of expense and discipline to
withdraw the armed guards from His Majesty's
forces which had for a time been supplied to
British merchant vessels permanently trading on
the South China coast, the shipping companies
concerned have agreed to accept, the cost being
met by them, an elaboration of the old
alternative arrangement under which Indian
guards were made available by the Hongkong
police authorities for the protection of
shipping against internal piratical attacks.
The extension of the scheme has entailed the
enlistment at shanghai of ussians and northern
Chinese.
I/