The Treasury Solicitor,
The Treasury,
London, S.W.1.
Dear Sir,
97
40, Trinity Square,
London, E.C.3.
24th June 1930.
China Navigation Company Limited
V
His Majesty's Attorney General
We have issued the above writ on the instructions of
our clients in order, if possible, to get an early judicial
decision upon the legal aspect of the differences of view
between our clients and His Majesty's Government in connection
with the necessary protection of merchant shipping in Chinese
waters against pirates. The state of affairs prevailing there
is and has been for many years very serious, and it is a grave
public question whether the kind of protection now being
offered by His Majesty's Government is sufficient.
But there
are some definite legal disagreements which ought to be
cleared up forthwith. His Majesty's Government has been
insisting, as the price of whatever protection they are willing
to provide, on certain stipulations as to payment and other-
wise which in our clients' submission are unconstitutional and
illegal, and against which our clients have protested, when
making the payments demanded. We therefore venture to ask
the assistance of His Majesty's Attorney-General in expediting
the case so as to enable the Court to dispose of it before the
Long Vacation. A large section of the British Mercantile
community is vitally interested in anti-piracy protection, and
it would be a boon to them if the Departments concerned could
help in disposing of the case quickly.
We have chosen the
present form of procedure largely with a view to expedition,
and our clients will be glad to agree to any reasonable and