COPY
(F 687/171/10)
40.1874 (30/68/1935) Copied to:-
Diplomatic Miɛsion.
Shanghai.
0-in-C.
13
BRITISH EMBASSY,
POKING,
31st December, 1935.
sir,
Sir Samuel Hoare, in his despatch No.747 (F 6076/176/10)
i
of the 26th September, requested me to furnish my observations after consultation with His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai, on the proposal to grant certificates to vessels adequately protected against piracy. I now have the honour to transmit to you, herewith, a copy of a despatch which I have received from ir John Brenan in reply to my request for his views on
this proposal.
2.
It will be seen that Sir John Brenan regards the scheme, in its present form, as impracticable, and I consider that the arguments which he advances against it are convincing.
The
only vessels which would be genuinely entitled to certificates would probably be the newer "centre castle" ships, and it would penalise the companies heavily if the older vessels were refused certificates. Finally, I do not think that there is any
possibility that the British companies would voluntarily
accept any system of certificates;
nor can there, in my opinion,
be any question of making such a system compulsory.
3.
subject to the views of the authorities in Hongkong, I eubmit, therefore, that no useful purpose would be served by laying this proposal before the British shipping companies in
London.
The Right Honourable,
Anthony Eden, M.G., M.i'.,
etc.,
etc., etc.,
Foreign office.
I have etc.,
(Signed) ALEXAN^ER/CA.OGAN.