CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 248

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

2

In reply, I have the honour to observe that there is a hard and fast line to be drawn between merchants and missionaries. Missionaries purchasing houses, building churches, &c., wherever these may be situated, are not permitted to buy them as private property; and the Tsung-li Yamên accordingly laid down that the purchase ≫

public of land by missionaries being for the purpose of building churches, the words " property of a Mission" ought to be indorsed on the deed, in order to avoid confusion between merchants and missionaries, which might result in the resale of the property. This has been the course adopted for many years, and it is not desirable to diverge from it. In the present case of the land bought by the Wesleyan Mission in the city of Changsha, precedent should be followed, and an indorsement made on the deeds that the land is the public property of the Mission, and that they are not at liberty to resell it.

In addressing this reply to your Excellency, I have the honour to request that you will send corresponding instructions to His Majesty's Consul at Changsha.

I avail, &c.

AFFAIRS OF CHINA,

CONFIDENTIAL,

[16632]

No. 1.

Admiralty to Foreign Office.—(Received May 22.)

C.O. 21013

| May 22.]

SECTION 13 JUN

247

Sir,

Admiralty, May 18, 1907. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, copy of a letter dated the 10th ultimo, with its inclosure, which has been received from the Commander-in-chief, China, relative to vessels employed in the West River in connection with the prevention of piracy.

I arri, &c. (Signed)

W. GRAHAM GREENE.

Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Vice-Admiral Moore to Admiralty.

C

Alacrity," at Karatsu, April 10, 1907. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, copies of a Memorandum I have issued to the Commanding Officers of the West River gun-boats. These orders are the outcome of correspondence which has recently taken place between Ilis Britannic Majesty's Cousul-General, Canton, the Commodore, Hong Kong, and myself.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

A. W. MOORE,

Vice-Admiral.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Memorandum.

THE following orders, which have been specially framed with a view to the prevention of piracy in the West River, are to be carefully observed by the Officers Commanding His Majesty's vessels employed in that district.

*...

1. Commanding Officers are to keep a corrected list of all British steam vessels trading in the West River and registered at Canton or Hong Kong.

They are to take frequent opportunities of boarding British launches, and vessels showing no colours, and are to examine their papers.

The papers of British vessels (not registered at Hong Kong) should consist of:- (a.) A signed and sealed copy of Consular Certificate of Registry, deposited at His Britannic Majesty's Consulate-General, Canton ;

(b) 1. Vessels trading under "Inland Waters Regulations," Certificate of Registry issued by the Imperial Maritime Customs, in which details of arms, armament, &c., are given in English and Chinese; or

2. Vessels trading under "West River Regulations," river pass and arms certificate issued by the Imperial Maritime Customs.

(c.) Annual Consular certificate of survey.

2. All irregularities discovered should be at once reported to the Consul-General, Canton, and also to the Commodore, in the case of vessels running from Hong Kong, or the British Consul, Wuchow, for vessels registered at that port.

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