This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.] 727
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
35528
3 22 DEC 994
[December 11.]
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury. -(Received December 11.)
(No. 304.) My Lord,
Peking, October 19, 1899. WITH reference to my despatch No. 219 of the 20th July last, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of an extract from a further Intelligence Report from Her Majesty's Consulate at Canton, respecting piracy and robbery in the Kuangtung Province.
It is suggested that it is in the power of launch owners to take more effective measures for their own protection than they have hitherto taken; and also that the native silk dealers are inclined, in their own interests, to exaggerate the reports of lawlessness in the interior of the province.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Extract from Canton Intelligence Report for September Quarter, 1899.
Piracy and Robbery. A few fresh cases of minor importance have occurred during the quarter, the usual plan having been adopted by the pirates of mingling among the passengers. There is no doubt that launch masters are very remiss in searching the passengers for arms, and unless this is done, the door is left wide open for outrages of the kind. The Viceroy, in despatches to the Commissioner and the Consul, has respectively enjoined and urged this precaution, and the Commissioner has issued a Notice, directing Chinese launch-masters to search the passengers, while the Consul, in a Circular notification to British launch owners, has strongly advocated the same course. The Viceroy has declined to entertain Mr. W. Waters' scheme (alluded to in last report), for the suppression of piracy, alleging that the torpedo-boats are required for their original purpose, and that Waters has his duties at the Naval and Military College which will give him ample occupation.
Active Measures.-It was found necessary to send troops to a place called Sai Chui, in the south-western portion of Nanhai district, to put down the robbers who were said to be seriously interfering with the silk industry. The Government soldiers were roughly handled at first, but they retaliated in kind by raising a village and driving away the inhabitants, after which the majority returned to Canton in triumph, leaving a few in the place to keep order.
Seizure of Arms.-The way these banditti are supplied with arms and ammunition is illustrated by the fact that on the 6th September, the Customs authorities seized on board the German steamer “Süllberg,” 220 revolvers of Belgian manufacture, and forty-two Mauser rifles. The revolvers were packed in two old condensed milk cases, and the rifles were wrapped up in straw mats. The evidence showing that some Chinese firemen took the arms on board at Hong Kong on the 5th September, the German Consul consented to their being discharged from the ship and handed over to the Chinese authorities.
Silk Dealers and Pirates.-It is very much to be suspected that the native silk dealers were working the piracy scare for all it was worth, in order to get their Petitions regarding the state of affairs forwarded through the Consulate. Their method is best illustrated by a concrete instance. A is a native silk merchant under contract to deliver silk to B, a foreign merchant in Canton. The goods are to be conveyed at A's risk, and he will receive no payment until they are safely stored in B's go-down. A then informs B that he is afraid of pirates and robbers, that he dare not bring the silk down, and forwards a Chinese Petition which he requests B to hand to the Consul for transmission to the Viceroy. The Consul refuses to do this, but says to B, that if A does not fulfil his contract, he is quite ready to prosecute him before his own authorities,
[2382 7-1]
This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.] 727
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
35528
3 22 DEC 994
[December 11.]
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury. -(Received December 11.)
(No. 304.) My Lord,
Peking, October 19, 1899. WITH reference to my despatch No. 219 of the 20th July last, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship herewith copy of an extract from a further Intelligence Report from Her Majesty's Consulate at Canton, respecting piracy and robbery in the Kuangtung Province.
It is suggested that it is in the power of launch owners to take more effective measures for their own protection than they have hitherto taken; and also that the native silk dealers are inclined, in their own interests, to exaggerate the reports of lawlessness in the interior of the province.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Extract from Canton Intelligence Report for September Quarter, 1899.
Piracy and Robbery. A few fresh cases of minor importance have occurred during the quarter, the usual plau having been adopted by the pirates of mingling among the passengers. There is no doubt that launch masters are very remiss in searching the passengers for arms, and unless this is done, the door is left wide open for outrages of the kind. The Viceroy, in despatches to the Commissioner and the Consul, has respectively enjoined and urged this precaution, and the Commissioner has issued a Notice, directing Chinese launch-masters to search the passengers, while the Consul, in a Circular notification to British launch owners, has strongly advocated the same course. The Viceroy has declined to entertain Mr. W. Waters' scheme (alluded to in last report), for the suppression of piracy, alleging that the torpedo-boats are required for their original purpose, and that Waters has his duties at the Naval and Military College which will give him ample occupation.
Active Measures.-It was found necessary to send troops to a place called Sai Chui, in the south-western portion of Nanhai district, to put down the robbers who were said to be seriously interfering with the silk industry. The Government soldiers were roughly handled at first, but they retaliated in kind by raising a village and driving away the inhabitants, after which the majority returned to Canton in triumph, leaving a few in the place to keep order.
Seizure of Arms.-The way these banditti are supplied with arms and ammunition is illustrated by the fact that on the 6th September, the Customs authorities seized on board the German steamer “ Süllberg," 220 revolvers of Belgian manufacture, and forty-two Mauser rifles. The revolvers were packed in two old condensed milk cases, and the rifles were wrapped up in straw mats. The evidence showing that some Chinese firemen took the arms on board at Hong Kong on the 5th September, the German Consul consented to their being discharged from the ship and handed over
to the Chinese authorities.
Silk Dealers and Pirates.-It is very much to be suspected that the native silk dealers were working the piracy scare for all it was worth, in order to get their Petitions regarding the state of affairs forwarded through the Consulate. Their method is best illustrated by a concrete instance. A is a native silk merchant under contract to deliver silk to B, a foreign merchant in Canton. The goods are to be conveyed at A's risk, and he will receive no payment until they are safely stored in B's go-down. A then informs B that he is afraid of pirates and robbers, that he dare not bring the silk down, and forwards a Chinese Petition which he requests B to hand to the Consul for transmission to the Viceroy. The Consul refuses to do this, but says to B, that if A does not fulfil his contract, he is quite ready to prosecute him before his own authorities,
[2382 7-1)
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