CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 427

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

425

25167

Aune 17.]

TRECE TO JUL 07 SECTION 8.

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No. 1.

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(No. 208.) Sir,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received June 17.)

Peking, May 1, 1907. WITH reference to my despatch No. 153 of the 30th March, regarding the steps to be taken by the Chinese Government for the suppression of piracy in the Canton Delta, I have the honour to report that I was informed at the Wai-wu Pu on the 2nd April that the Revenue Council (Shui Wa Ch'u) was prepared to provide the necessary funds, and that T'ang Ta-jén, in his capacity of Comptroller-General of the Revenue Council, was consulting with his colleague T'ieh Liang upon this question.

In a subsequent conversation with Tang Ta-jên I learnt that the scheme for a preventive service under Customs control, and paid for out of funds provided by the Revenue Council, which I have urged continually for the past six months, had been finally decided on, and at Tang Ta-jên's suggestion I asked the Wai-wu Pu, at an interview yesterday, for an authoritative statement of the scheme.

The Grand Secretary Na T'ung thereupon informed me that, as the Viceroy at Canton and the Revenue Council had hesitated to come to a final decision, and had referred the matter back to the Wai-wu Pu, that Board had decided on behalf of the Chinese Government to devote the 2 lakhs of taels (say, 32,0001), which the Revenue Council were prepared to provide, to the purchase of four revenue cruisers. These vessels were to be placed under Customs control, and their primary use would be for the prevention of smuggling. In order to deal with piracy they would carry on board a nilitary or naval officer, as the representative of the territorial authorities, whose duty it would be to capture pirates whenever found.

I asked his Excellency if he was prepared to embody this statement în a note, and he expressed himself quite willing to do so, but suggested that it would have more practical value if the Board wrote after effective measures had been actually taken. As his Excellency assured me that the scheme would be entered upon without delay, I saw no objection to the suggestion.

I am sending copies of this despatch confidentially to the Governor of Hong Kong, Admiral Moore, and His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.

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