CO129-117 - Public Offices - 1866 — Page 320

on an

-illegal trade there must be dishonest native traders in league with them, who effect the continuation to perpetuate these irregularities, and it is urgently necessary that local authorities and the British in charge of Coast stations be enjoined to use earnest diligence in taking such measures as will ensure the

the suppressing

Therefore found

9. ready provisions and check listing practices. Orders are now issued to the Prefects of all the southern Departments to take active measures

of warding prohibiting the traffic referred to, in order to maintain the Treaty stipulations and the laws of maritime Commerce; in addition where to this Despatch is now addressed to the Prefect of — who is hereby commanded to despatch proper Officials to the districts bordering

"on the west

There

318

there to take action with the local civil

in

Stations

Whether

and military authorities and,

in charge of forts or war stations, in making effectual enquiry

if illicit traffic is being carried on by foreign steamers, in conjunction with native traders and in such

any

Case

in seize both vessel and cargo, transmitting the same to Canton for imperial decision apprehending simultaneously the native traders who may

be found acting in collusion [with such vessels], and bringing them to condign punishment. The Prefect is further preliminarily to issue proclamations along the coast, stating with the Stipulations of the Treaty, and distinctly prohibiting any infraction of the same, to the end that the Laws of maritime

Commerce be maintained and the Customs Revenue duly

collected