CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 468

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL

[July 10.]

SECTION 1.

[22809]

No. 1.

Admiralty to Foreign Office.-(Received July 10.)

C C. 26320

IRECT

REG 23 JUL 07 Sir,

Admiralty, July 9, 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, extracts from letters, dated the 15th May, which have been received through the Commander- in-chief, China, from the officers commanding His Majesty's ships "Moorhen and "Robin" respecting the condition of affairs in the West River district, China.

}

I am, &c.

(Signed)

C. I. THOMAS.

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Extract from Letter of Proceedings of His Majesty's Ship" Moorhen," dated Samshui, May 15, 1907.

IT is satisfactory to be able to report that no case of piracy affecting British interests has occurred now for the last six months, the last case being the piracy of a launch above Wuchow on the 8th November, 1906, and the energetic attempts at patrolling the river instituted by the Chinese after the piracy of the British steamer "Sainam are still maintained. On the 13th instant the first two patrol-launches ordered by the late Viceroy of Canton passed through here on their way up river. They steam about 9 knots, and are well equipped with a good stand of arms, but at present carry no guns.

The first rice crop is being planted, and the first crop of mulberry promises to be an unusually good one, so one may expect to hear no more of piracy for some time to come. Agricultural depression and piracy go over hand-in-hand in the two Kwang provinces.

The Portuguese Government have ordered from Messrs. Yarrow and Co., of Poplar, two river gun-boats of the "Moorhen" type, and they are expected to be delivered in Hong Kong before long. The Governor of Macao told me that their duties will be conlined principally to patrolling the vicinity of Macao, but as three steamers flying the Portuguese flag trade regularly to Kong Mun, and a fourth to Samshui, I have no doubt that we shall frequently see them in the West River.

Lieutenant Monterio, Aide-de-camp to the Governor, has been appointed in charge of the resurvey of the waters round Macao, and the military authorities under General Castello Branco are making a topographical map of Macao.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Extract from Letter of Proceedings of His Majesty's Ship "Robin,” dated May 15, 1907.

I SUBMIT that I have no information or report of any piracy, and the launches that I have inspected are in good order.

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