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all that has been done). The action at present undertaken by the British patrol on the inland waters of the West River, &c. is I understand limited to the examination of Tugs flying the British flag, and the search for unauthorised arms upon such vessels. I understand further that the so-called pirates are believed to be chiefly villagers inhabiting the riverain villages, who are prompted to these excesses either by failure of crops or by cupidity, and that the boat population do not (or only rarely) join these piratical bands. If I am right in these premises and if it is desired to bring greater pressure upon the Viceroy than the patrol with its existing limitations of action can effect, it would seem to me that the extension of search to vessels bearing the Chinese flag (which presumably are the only ones which commit piratical acts) would increase the pressure (a course I understand to have been covered by Your Excellency's proposals in March last). The Viceroy might also be urged to locate troops in the riverain districts without delay and to issue an Order that the Chief Official of a district in which an act of piracy occurred would be summarily deprived of office. The effectual action taken by the Taotai of Wuchow would seem to indicate that it lies within the power of these district officials to suppress piracy if they desire to do so and those demands (since they do not involve foreign control) would probably not be repugnant to His Excellency. The Foreign Office has suggested the destruction of villages harbouring pirates and robbers, but Your Excellency would probably consider that the landing of armed parties to search villages for arms would probably necessitate the despatch of troops and would not improbably in the present state of feeling give rise to a conflagration. Such a measure could not thereafter
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all that has been done). The action at present undertakan
by the British patrol on the inland waters of the West
River, &c. is I understand limited to the axemination of
Tassels flying the British flag, and the search for
unauthorised arms upon such vessels. I understand further
that the so-called pirates are believed to be chiefly
villagers inhabiting the riverain villages, who are
prompted to these excU506 sither by failure of crops or
by cupidity, and that the boat population do not (or only
rarely) join these piratical bands. If I am right in
these premises and if it is desired to bring greater
pressure upon the Viceroy than the patrol with its exist-
·ing limitations of action can effect, it would seem to ne
that the extension of search to vesseln bearing the Chinese
#lag (which presumably are the only ones which commit
piratical acta) would increase the pressure la course I
understand to have been covered by Your Ixcellency's pre-
posals in March last). The Viceray might also be urged to
locate troops in the riverain districts without delay and
to issue an Order that the Chier Official of a district
in which an act of piracy occurred would be sumarily
deprived of office. The effectual action taken by the
Taotni of "uchow would seem to indicate that it lies within
the power of these district officials to suppress piracy ipthey desire to do so and those demands (since they do
not involve foreign control) would probably not be
repugnant to Hia Excellency. The Foreign Office han
suggested the destruction of villages harbouring pirates
and robbers, but Your Excellency would probably conalder
that the landing of armed parties to search villages for
aras would probably necessitate the despatch of treops
and would not improbably in the present state of feeling
give rise to a conflagration. Such a measure could not
therafera
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