This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government 61
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[September 3
SECTION 2.
RECO Meet 30 SEP 99
587
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received September 3.)
(No. 219.)
Peking, July 20, 1899.
My Lord,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 192 of the 4th instant on the subject of piracy in Canton waters, I have the honour to inclose an extract from the Canton Intelligence Report for June quarter, dated the 5th instant, showing that the Provincial Governor is contemplating steps for suppressing these outrages.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Extract from Canton Intelligence Report for June Quarter, 1899.
Further Scheme for the Suppression of Piracy.
MR. WATERS, Instructor at the Whampoa Naval and Military School, has forwarded to the Vicer ... a Memorandum of a further scheme for the suppression of piracy. He proposes to form a flotilla of five of the torpedo-boats now lying idle at Whampoa, under the joint command of himself and a Chinese military official. The boats are to be thoroughly armed and manned, and will constantly scour the waters in quest of pirates. A well-paid staff of informers will also be required.
This scheme, which the Viceroy is said to have taken up with considerable interest, unfortunately appears to run some risk of falling through, owing to some jealousy which exists against Mr. Waters on the part of M. Hummel, a German who has been many years employed at the torpedo establishment at Whampoa, and who seems to consider the proposal an attempt to oust him from his position. This view, which is quite unsupported, appeared to be shared by the German interpreter in charge, M. Lange.
No. 2.
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received September 3.)
(No. 226.)
My Lord,
Peking, July 24, 1899.
IN continuation of my despatch No. 192 of the 4th instant on the subject of the piratical outrage on the steam-ship "Wo-on" in Canton waters, I have the honour to inclose copy of a despatch dated the 13th instant which I have received from Her Majesty's Consul in Canton.
Your Lordship will observe from the Consul's Report that, in conformity with my instructions, he informed the Governor-General of Canton that he must claim from the local authorities the sum of 2,000 dollars for losses suffered by the steam-launch owner and crew, on the ground that those officials had grossly neglected their duties in the matter of the prevention of such outrages.
The Governor-General has absolutely declined to even discuss such a demand, and Her Majesty's Consul gives his opinion that the Governor-General's resentment on
[2184 a-2]
This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government 61
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[September 3
SECTION 2.
RECO Meet 30 SEP 99
587
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received September 3.)
(No. 219.)
Peking, July 20; 1899. My Lord,
WITH reference to my despatch No. 192 of the 4th instant on the subject of piracy in Canton waters, I have the honour to inclose an extract from the Canton Intelligence Report for June quarter, dated the 5th instant, showing that the Pro- vincial Governor is contemplating steps for suppressing these outrages.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Extract from Canton Intelligence Report for June Quarter, 1899.
Further Scheme for the Suppression of Piracy.
MR. WATERS, Instructor at the Whampoa Naval and Military School, has forwarded to the Viceroy, through the Consulate, a Memorandum of a further scheme for the suppression of piracy. He proposes to form a flotilla of five of the torpedo- boats now lying idle at Whampoa, under the joint command of himself and a Chinese military official. The boats are to be thoroughly armed and manned, and will constantly scour the waters in quest of pirates. A well-paid staff of informers will also be required.
This scheme, which the Viceroy is said to have taken up with considerable interest, unfortunately appears to run some risk of falling through, owing to some jealousy which exists against Mr. Waters on the part of M. Hummel, a German who has been many years employed at the torpedo establishment at Whampoa, and who seems to consider the proposal an attempt to oust him from his position. This view, which is quite unsupported, appeared to be shared by the German interpreter in charge, M. Lange.
No. 2.
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.~(Received September 3.)
(No. 226.) My Lord,
Peking, July 24, 1899. IN continuation of my despatch No. 192 of the 4th instant on the subject of the piratical outrage on the steam-ship "Wo-on" in Canton waters, I have the honour to inclose copy of a despatch dated the 13th instant which I have received from Her Majesty's Consul in Canton.
Your Lordship will observe from the Consul's Report that, in conformity with my instructions, he informed the Governor-General of Canton that he must claim from the local authorities the sum of 2,000 dollars for losses suffered by the steam-launch owner and crew, on the ground that those officials had grossly neglected their duties in the matter of the prevention of such outrages.
The Governor-General has absolutely declined to even discuss such a demand, and Her Majesty's Consul gives his opinion that the Governor-General's resentment on
[2184 a-2]
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