COPY
JOHN SWIFE & SONS LTD.
8 Billiter Square,
sir,
London,
E.C.3.
19th June 1934.
The piracy of our 8.8. "Shuntien"
in the Gulf of Pechili is a new and very serious
extension of the pirate menace to British shipping,
which has hitherto been centred in South China.
Although we realise the difficulties presented by the
present political conditions in China, it is a matter
of great urgency that all possible stepa should be
taken to protect British shipping in Chinese waters
against the growing threat of piracy, under the menace
of which they are now trading.
To deal with the immediate situation,
our Shanghai house have wired us that they consider it
is a "vital necessity" for the vessels running in the
Shanghai/Tsingtao"Chefoo/Wei-hai-Wei/Tientsin service
to have naval or military guards.
We support their
urgent request and ask that arrangements should be made
for guards to be provided.
We are, Sir,
Your obedient servanta,
The Permanent Secretary,
The Admiralty,
Whitehall
(Sd.) John Swire & Sons Ltd.,
Mənagers,
China Navigation Company Ltd.
S. W. 1.