149
of a daylight patrol by one of H. M.snips
within the leased territorial waters of the
also
Colony. The S. of S. observes that,
in reply, the C. in C. China states that he
does not propose to take any steps at this
moment which may have the effect of further
prejudicing relations of H. M. G. with the
Japanese Government, and that he considers
it a mistake to allow vessels flying the
Chinese national maritime customs flag to
trade on the security of British territorial
waters in pursuing their duties, and suggests
that this practice should be stopped as the
best compromise under the circumstances.
As their Lordships are aware, Chinese vessels
of war, whether neutral or otherwise, retain
the right to use the waters of Mirs Bay and
Deep Bay under the 1898 Convention between the
Further
U.K.
and China, aatamtanexofte, as already
stated in the letter from this Department
of the btn of October, the S. of S. considers
tnat it would not be in the best interests of
the Colony or of British relations with China
if