CO129-334 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [5-7] — Page 600

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should be obtained from the Chinese Government for the ade-

quate future policing of the West River and neighbouring

Waters, and if such guarantees were not obtained that the

British Government should take the matter in hand at

China's cost; I have no knowledge of the nature of the

guarantees proposed

C

whether territory or money

C

but in

1

any event it seems doubtful to me whether in such a matter

His Majesty's Government would think fit to proceed except

in concert with other powers. The Hongkong Branch of the

China Association suggest the dismissal of Viceroy Shum;

though this would have the effect of impressing on his

successor his responsibilities the beneficial result of

such supersession would not probably be of long duration.

6.

The most practical and satisfactory way of

dealing with the matter seems to me to be to compel the

Chinese Government to put the water-ways leading to Canton

under the Imperial Maritime Customs for the prevention of

piracy in the same way as they are now under that depart-

ment for the prevention of smuggling. This would ensure

foreign (i.e. Western) control of the suppression service

without derogating from the sovereignty of China, without

raising the opposition from other Western nations which

would result from an attempt at a purely British control

and without giving rise to the friction which would follow

the

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