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to their notice for the past eighteen months, namely, piracy in Canton waters. The Admiral was familiar both by personal experience and from the reports of his. officers with the conditions in that part of China, and could describe how matters stood.
The Admiral then proceeded to tell his Excellency Yuan that during his recent cruise he had received a telegram from the Admiralty regarding this question, and calling upon him to suggest effective means of preventing similar occurrences in the future. As he was to visit Peking, he replied that he would defer making a detailed A answer until he had conferred with His Majesty's Minister and the Wai-wu Pa. scheme had been under discussion for some time past between the British Minister and the Board for the organization of a service of patrol-vessels under the control of the Imperial Maritime Customs, and the Admiral had been under the impression when he paid his last visit to the former Viceroy at Canton, Chou Fu, that this arrangement had been settled in principle and only awaited execution. The Viceroy Chou Fu had expressed concurrence in it, and the Admiral left the south under the conviction that this plan was to be carried out.
During the intervening time, however, four further cases of piracy had been reported, and no effective steps were being taken by the Chinese authorities to safeguard the future. It was true that the Viceroy had purchased fourteen patrol-vessels, but they were not of a suitable type, and it was a pity that the money had not been more profitably used in getting the four vessels which were to be placed under Customs control. As his Excellency Yuan was aware, the squadron under the Admiral's command was out here for the protection of British commerce and the British flag. Injuries to our commerce and outrages on our flag imposed upon him the responsibility of devising measures of protection, and, indeed, he had the specific instructions of the Admiralty, as already stated, calling for suggestions towards this end. He had already moved his smaller ships to Hong Kong, and if further attacks were made on British vessels he would be obliged to protect the flag to the best of his ability by patrolling the river. He would be most reluctant to take the step, as it was manifestly the duty of China to police her own waterways, and he made a strong appeal to his Excellency to render any such action unnecessary by introducing effective measures without delay, With this end in view the Chinese Government had but to carry out the arrangement of supplying suitable patrol-vessels under Customs control.
His Excellency Yuan said, in reply, that he deeply regretted the disorderly conditions which had prevailed, and could assure the Admiral that effective steps would be speedily taken. The new Viceroy had assumed office three days ago, and he would be given telegraphic instructions in this sense.
The Admiral asked if this implied that the scheme of patrol-vessels under Customs What should control would be put into force. He must reply to the Admiralty.
he say?
His Excellency Yuan answered that the instructions he spoke of would be in a general sense. The Viceroy would be called upon to devise thoroughly effective measures without delay.
Sir J. Jordan explained to his Excellency the history of the "Customs scheme": how it had been agreed upon by the Wai-wu Pu, the discussions having been carried on mostly with the Grand Secretary Na Tung; how the Revenue Council had agreed to find the money; and how it only failed in execution owing to the opposition of the Viceroy Tsen, who consistently disobeyed the wishes of the Central Government. He then described the two chief piracy cases-that of the steam-ship "Sainam" last year, and the recent piracy of the launch "Kichang." What he feared was that if another Neither of these two cases had cas: occurred a difficult situation would be created.
yet been satisfactorily settled, and the recurrence of such outrages would cause a most unpleasant impression in England. Both the Admiral and himself were in duty bound to do all they could to prevent such a contingency.
CL
The merits of the Customs scheme were briefly discussed. His Excellency Yuan admitted that he was not completely familiar with the history of this particular arrangement, but would study it up. In his opinion the whole matter depended on the Viceroy. With a weak or negligent man in office the best of schemes would fail; but if the Viceroy was sufficiently severe he could stamp out this so-called piracy in a very short time. Measures confined to the waterways would not be complete, as the plates lived on shore, and it was for the local authorities to capture them there and clear out their hiding-places.
Admiral Moore agreed that this co-operation on shore was essential, but efficient patrol by fast and suitable vessels was necessary. The reason why Customs control was
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sought for was because the provincial patrol-vessels were useless. The officers in command were negligent; the men were allowed to absent themselves, or to sleep whilst nominally on duty; píracies took place within earshot of them, and they did nothing.
His Excellency Yuan returned to his point, that with an energetic Viceroy things would be different. He repeated that he would study the question, and that the new Viceroy would be obliged to carry out the orders which he would receive,
The Admiral said he trusted this would be so. With his smaller ships at Hong Kong he was prepared to act, but he hoped there would be no occasion to do so; and if he could assist the Chinese Government in any way by advice as to the type of vessel they should have, he was at their disposal.
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