CO129-132 - Sir MacDonnell - 1868 [8-9] — Page 592

8

9.

586

he had willingly met the proposition of Vice-Admiral SIR HENRY KEPPEL for a total Disarmament as an effectual means for the suppression of piracy under the impres- sion that it might be carried out, but experience had proved its impracticability, and it now remained only to be seen what could be done to effect an object which he had quite as much at heart as the Vice-Admiral or The GOVERNOR.

Yesterday I received a despatch from His Excellency in which, after referring to the Proclamation decrecing the disarmament of Fishing Junks and the protests lodged against the measure, he proposes, as a preliminary measure, to register the Fishing Boats, enrolling them in groups with a chief manager to each whose duty it shall be strictly to watch them; a valid guarantee to be at the same time given by the said managers and deposited in the hands of the Authorities, and in the event of any act of piracy being committed, the manager to be held solely responsible; and that he has given orders for the drafting of the necessary Rules in proper form and detail, which, on being laid before him, he will communicate.

His Excellency The GOVERNOR will, doubtless, see in the readiness with which the VICE ROY accepted the proposition of a total disarmament an earnest desire on his part to remedy the evil complained of; but that the means of effecting this should be found inexpedient, or, in other words, that the experiment has failed, owing partly to the opposition of the maritime population and the difficulty of enforcing the terms of the Proclamation, is not surprising. My own impression has always been that what might easily be done in the narrow waters of Hongkong would be found all but impossible on a long coast line indented with bays and harbors, and that, unless entire protection to person and property could be guaranteed in exchange for a total disarmament, the attempt to suppress Piracy in the manner proposed had better not be made. Under the circumstances, however, it was not for me to make objections, but I fully recognize, and indeed anticipated, the difficulties of the position the VICE ROY finds himself placed in, and I trust His Excellency The GOVERNOR will make every allowance for them.

Something, however, will be gained by a strict Registration of the Fishing Boats, and an evidence afforded of their honesty not hitherto existing. The rigorous decree of total disarmament may then safely be abandoned for a less untaking and objectionable mode of procedure.

I have informed the VICE Ror that I will communicate his views to SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, and on receipt of His Excellency's reply I shall be in a better position to discuss the matter.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

(Signed,) D. B. ROBERTSON,

(Copy) HONGKONG. No. 421.

SIR,

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 10th September, 1868.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 8th September, No. 186, acquainting me for the information of His Excellency SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL with the result of an interview had with the VICE ROY for the purpose of ascertaining the steps taken to carry out the provisions of the Proclamation for Disarmament of Junks issued by him in April last.

It now appears that whilst admitting the bonâ fides of His Excellency The GOVERNOR in responding immediately by disarming Chinese Vessels in Colonial waters, the VICE Ror nevertheless expresses his inability, from the insuperable difficulties attending its enforcement, to carry out the terms of his own Proclama- tion, and intimates his intention of endeavoring to check Piracy by means of registration secured by valid guarantees.

In reply, I am directed by SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL to inform you that under the circumstances he will suspend all measures for the Disarmament of Native Vessels in these waters. have at the same time to express His Excellency's regret that when the VICE ROY had once undertaken to carry out a system he should have been deterred from proceeding only by difficulties which from the commencement he must have foreseen, and which might have been terminated by a greater amount of resolution.

I am further directed by His Excellency to observe that the risk of capture by Piratical Vessels has been now so diminished that he is much surprised at the weight which the VICE ROY has attached to representations based on such grounds.

D. B. ROBERTSON, Esq., C.B.,

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

(Signed,)

Her Britannic Majesty's Consul,

CANTON.

J. GARDINER AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary.

The Honorable J. GARDINER AUSTIN,

Colonial Secretary,

HONGKONG,

Consul.