CO129-302 - Public Offices - 1900 — Page 532

laid down.

On the question of providing additional vessels

of greater power than those at present engaged in the

1 patrol of the West River, I am to represent that

the lawless state of affairs existing in those waters,

due in great measure to the apathy and illwill to-

wards the British of the late Viceroy of Canton, has,

as Lord Salisbury is aware, beon the subject of care-

ful consideration on the part of the Commander-in-

Chief in conference with His Excellency the Governor

of Hong Kong, and Sir Edward Seymour, so far as the

means at his disposal have permitted, has made every

effort to suppress piracy and has written that he

himself had been up the river so as to be able to

form the better judgment as to how matters could be

improved.

The responsibility for restoring law and order

on the river, rests of course in the first place

with the Chinese Government, and the new Viceroy,

Li Hung Chang, has stated that he is most anxious

to put down piracy, and to co-operate with the

Goveror of Hong Kong and the Commander-in-Chief

in doing so, and should his professions prove to

be sincere, it is hoped that with his assistance,

and with the recent addition of the river gunboat

*Robin" of nine knots speed and two feet draught,

to the resources of the Commander-in-Chief, the

steps taken may be found effectual in putting an

end to the present state of disorder on the ri-

ver.

Should, however, this expectation not be

fulfilled, it will be necessary to ascertain de-

finitely from the Commander-in-Chief, what are

the local requirements, and the particular type

of vessel needed, and until this information has

been received, my Lords consider that it would

be premature to design and lay down special ves-

sels for this service which after all might not

prove suitable.

to

523