COPY
DRAFT
M.01754/34.
Gentlemen,
July 1934.
47
With reference to your letter of the
19th June, concerning the "piracy of the 8.8. SMUNTIEN
I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
to inform you that They have given careful consideration,
in conjunction with the other Departments concerned, to
the question raised in your letter of the provision of
naval or military guards for British vessels trading
between Shanghai and Northern Chinese ports.
2.
As you are aware, H.M. Government
decided in 1929 that thẻ military guards placed on
British ships permanently trading on the South China
coast could only be continued for a limited period until
the 31st March 1930 when the shipping companies would
have had time to make other arrangements. The supply
of guards was, however, extended for a further limited
period, on certain conditions, one of which was that
the full cost (instead of the extra cost only) of the
guards should be paid by the shipping companies, and
military guards ultimately ceased to be supplied in
August 1930, by which time an armed force under the
control of the Hong Kong police had been organised and
made available at Hong Kong, the cost of which is borne
by the shipping companies.
Messrs. John Swire & Sons, Ltô,,
8 Billiter Square,
E. C. 3.
3.........