CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 159

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On my expressing some doubt as to the efficacy of these native gun-boats and the discipline of their crews, he said that they were useful in attacking the villages where the pirates took refuge, and that they did not remain at anchor, but patrolled their sections of the river constantly. The crews were strictly forbidden to live on shore. The sections in which they operated were of such small extent that in case of need they could always summon the assistance of the neighbouring gun-boats by firing a signal.

He was of opinion that the energetic policy of the present Viceroy had already done much to improve the former condition of affairs, which he admitted had been deplorable, and he hoped that by constant vigilance, especially in the Shunte district, he might be able to increase the security of the waterways under his charge. He testified to the accuracy of the reports received for many years past by this Legation from His Majesty's Consulate-General at Canton as to the modus operandi of the pirates, who, he said, find no difficulty in escaping to Hong Kong or Macao after a successful attack. He particularly mentioned, however, that the Canton authorities always received prompt assistance from your Excellency's Government in cases of extradition.

I am forwarding copy of this despatch to the Foreign Office and to His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton.

I have, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.

Your Highness,

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Sir E. Satow to Prince Ching.

Peking, May 26, 1905. I HAD yesterday the pleasure of receiving the visit of his Excellency Li Chun, the recently-appointed Acting Admiral at Canton, and took the opportunity of making some observations to him on the subject of the prevalence of armed robbery directed against launches on the West River and in the Canton Delta, from which British subjects as well as Chinese have been sufferers. I was glad to learn from him that steps have already been taken to reorganize a system of patrol and guard-boats on those waters, and that, on his arrival at his post, he will do his best to cope with the prevailing lawlessness; but I am inclined to think that, in order to render the preventive service really efficacious, it is necessary to keep a larger number of steam gun-boats on the river, and that Chinese boats propelled by means of sweeps, and with crews of only fifteen men, cannot be expected to overtake the pirates, who often carry on their depredations by means of steam-launches which they have seized from the owners. These pirates are desperate men, and the boats used for their pursuit ought to be swift under steam, well armed with machine guns and small rifled cammon, and manned by well trained and numerous crews. The villages haunted by these robbers ought to be frequently visited, and the inhabitants thus kept in awe of the authorities. Among the most notorious localities are the districts of Namloi, Hsiangshan, and Shunte. During the three months ending with the 30th September of last year no fewer than three British launches were robbed by pirates of a large amount of property, while attacks were made ou land upon villages and silk filatures, resulting in the destruction of many houses and other valuable property. I mention only cases in which British interests were concerned, and they are only some of the cases that have occurred.

I trust that the Chinese Government will impress ou the Viceroy of the Liang Kwang the necessity of taking energetic measures to put a stop to these acts of lawlessness, for which the Canton Delta is becoming notorious, and that the new Acting Admiral will be furnished with all the armed vessels and trained men of whom he may stand in need for the preservation of order and the punishment of evil-doers.

I. take, &c. (Signed) ERNEST SATOW.

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty s Government.]

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 1.

[July 17.]

SECTION 1.

156

Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received July 17.)

(No. 181.) My Lord,

Peking, May 27, 1905. WITH reference to your Lordship's telegram of the 17th instant informing me that the attention of His Majesty's Government had been called in Parliament to piratical attacks upon British-owned launches in the Canton delta, and suggesting that I should make representations on the subject to the Chinese Government, I have the honour to report that on the 25th instant I received a visit from the newly appointed Admiral of Canton, and took the opportunity of impressing upon him the necessity of stringent and energetic measures being adopted against the perpetrators of the lawless acts complained of. I have followed up my remarks to him by a note to Prince Ching urging that the necessary instructions should be given to the Viceroy of Canton, and that well-armed and well-manned steamers should be furnished to the Canton Admiral in sufficient number to enable him to efficiently perform the duty of repressing this kind of violence. Of this note, as well as of a despatch to the Governor of Hong Kong, recounting what passed at my interview with Admiral Li, I have the honour to inclose copies.

In my despatch No. 402 of the 28th November I had the honour to transmit an extract from an Intelligence Report furnished by Mr. F. E. Wilkinson, the Acting Consul at Wuchow, in which he gave some details of two cases mentioned in Mr. Campbell's Report for September (referred to in your Lordship's telegram), and explained some of the difficulties which hamper the Chinese officials in dealing with crimes of this character. At the same time, there seems to be little doubt that while the provincial authorities have not provided adequate means for the suppression of these piratical bands, many of the minor officials are to blame for remissness in the performance of their duty, possibly owing to the absence of the Viceroy from the seat of government. The successful operations against the rebels in Kuanglisi seem to have had some effect in reducing the number of disorderly persons who used to commit robberies on the upper portion of the West River, and it is satisfactory to note that Mr. Wilkinson, in his Report for the quarter ended the 31st March, was able to state that no cases of piracy or even of robbery on the waterways of that province had been reported to him.

Your Excelleney,

I have, &c. (Signed)

ERNEST SATOW.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Sir E. Salow to Governor Sir M. Nothan.

Peking, May 25, 1905. I RECEIVED a visit to-day from Li-chun, who has recently been appointed Acting Admiral at Canton. He is a native of the Province of Szechuan, but appears to have spent many years in and about Canton in the execution of both civil and quasi- naval duties, and to have travelled as far afield as Singapore and Siam. He is 35 years of age, and gives the impression of being a capable and energetic man.

I took the opportunity of mentioning to him that the prevalence of piracy in Canton waters was a source of constant danger to British trade as well as to the lives and property of his own fellow countrymen, and I expressed the hope that he would succeed in devising efficient measures for its complete eradication.

He assured me that he fully recognized the importance of this question and that he intended to do his best to cope with it. He stated that the system of patrol and guard-boats had already been re-organized on the West River.

The patrol- boats he described as steam-vessels each of which operates along a section of the river from 30 li to 50 li in length, while the guard-boats were native craft, with a crew of fifteen men in each, charged with the policing of sections varying from 3 li to 5 li in length.

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