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which His Majesty's Government already Lakon the matter members bere present re- spectfully urge that unless the Chinese authorities
ban be in- duced to take steps to exter minate piracy and to prevent its re- erudescence there is no guarantee that the evils complained of will not recur." (Loud applause.)
HON. MR. GRESSON SECONDS. Hồn MẸ V.. Gresson: Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, We must all deplore the regrettable incident that has necessitated our meeting here to-day. The daring piratical attack on the Sainam has unforu- nately resulted in loss of life, among the victims being a man who has placed his time and training at the 'disposal of the Chinese, with the desire to alleviate their sufferings, and what is his reward?
An in- timely death, due to no steps being taken by the authorities to patrol sad police the waterways, or as they may well be called highways of the province. It is not for a matter of wooks, or even months, but for years, that pivacy has been rampant br what is generally called the Canton Delta; indeed, his know- ledge of its existence has been openly admitted by the Official re- sponsible for the keoping of law and order, and it is abnost inere dible that no energetis steps have been taken to suppose the evil. You are well aware, gentlemon, that when foreigners act as pioneers in the shipping or any other trade, tending towards the devolopisant od the vast Chinese Emphe, they do so under enormous disadvantages, in breaking down "ow euston," and overcoming native susceptibilitie (Applause.) Nevertheless, lives emi money are rocky risked in the fin belief that on just such occasions as the present they
can claim and promptly receive the protection of ue flag under which they are work- ink. Applauso.) The Chinese are not show to recognise this fact, andl it is in large measuro owing to the protection and fair treatment which they expect to receive that they patronize stemmers trading under a foreign flag in preference to those owned by their own Countrymen, and with a footing once gained ex- perience soon teaches the advan- tages of conforming with the western castorus. It is, therefore, obvious that if this support be denied us, the risks will become so great that they must seriously interfere with, if not strangle, the development of trade in the Two Kwang provinech. contrast may be usefully drawn be tween the state of law and order which prevails in the district under the sway of Yuan Shih nai and the lawlessness and disorder which is rife in the region administered by His Excellency Shuni. (Applause.) In asking our Government to insist and, if necessary, assist the Chinesc Government in putting an cnd once and for all to this intolerable menace to life and property, which · exists in a greater or less degree throughout the land, I am confident that we can look for their support; for we are
not only asking their /assistance on behalf of all foreign nationalities, but they will also be rendering a signal service to the Chinese nation at large (applause), who like ourselves are in the hands, and at the mercy, of these lawless robbers. With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution that you have put to the ceting. (ap- plause).
A
MR. LAW SUPPORTS THE
RESOLUTION.
Mr. D. R. Law: Gentlemen, I will not detain you for more than a few minutes. I desire to give expres- ajon publicy to the deep regret of the owners of the Saiman at the lamentable death of Dr. Macdonald. That such a valuable life as his should have been
80 needlessly sacrificed at the hands of the cowardly ruffians who attacked the Sainam must ever be a matter of doep regret to us all, and I am sure I am expressing your feedings when I say that our deepest sympathy is extended to Mrs. MacDonald and family in their great loss. (Hear, hear.) I also desire to give my hearty support to the resolution proposed by our Chairman. It is, indeed, high time for this Associa- tion to move and to demand that an end shall be made, once and for all, of these pariahs of humanity who infest the trade routes of South Cuna without let or hindrance and livo on the proceeds of their vile murders and robbery.
we do not only ask for the punishment of the guilty in the Sainas case, we de- mand that the pirates and their villages shall be cradiented. (Ap- plauso.) We shall not be satisfied the with such tardy efforts as Viceroy is reported to be making dow. (Applause.) The cancerous growth of pirney which has spread itself all over the Canton Delta is not to be destroyed by taking action only when it manifests itself in some diabolical form such on the Sainan case. It requires a ruthless surgeon to apply the krite and cut it out root and branch. (Applet.c.) Yes- terday it was poor Dr. MacDonald, who was sacrificed on the altar of oficial ineptitude and corruption: to-day it may be some other valued friend; to-morrow perhaps even yourself if your duty calls you to these regions. Every day it is the poor Chinese who sulfor at the hands of unrestrained rufianism: and are wo to sit quietly by and never dore a hand to stem the torrent of misery and suffering that fellows on the train of these atroci- ties against humanity? We are more than justified in calling upon our Government to redress thes wrongs. (Applause.) If diplonmtle pressuro has no effect on the Chi nese Government in awakening Jo the animity of it goil and vo @ sense of its respouribilities, then I have no hesitation if afirming that it becomes the duty of nar Government to take the matter in band and propose to the other Powers more immediately interest ed joint action in putting an end t... a state of affairs which is a disgram to civilization. (Applause) La. claiming the right of scenely for life and property, both for Defian and European alike, we are sucoly not asking ton much And if the Chinesa Government adu ́t wir in- ability to provide that security mer which the highest form of bum happiness and prosperity depeni, then I conceive that they eng no longer be treated by the usuri diplo. matic methods employed betwien civilized Powers. (Applause, The British Government has always taken the lead in endeavouring to treat Chim as though she were a eivilized Power, wil the iden vi helping her to become one; has always endeavoured to adopt a beneficent attitude towards the Court of Peking, with the result that there is no gratitude, no response.
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