CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907 — Page 56

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

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

A

CONFIDENTIAL.

[28447]

53

32445

[August 26.]

SECTION 4.

Per 10 SEP 07

No. 1.

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received August 26.)

(No. 331.)

Peking, July 10, 1907. Sir,

WITH reference to my despatch No. 286 of the 12th June, regarding the steps to be taken for suppressing piracy in the Canton delta, I have the honour to inclose copy of a note which I addressed to Prince Ching on this subject on the 3rd July recording the verbal arrangements arrived at between the Board of Foreign Affairs and myself, and expressing regret at the delay of the Chinese Government in giving effect to these measures. The neglect of the Chinese authorities in the past to police their waterways had led to this duty being undertaken as far as possible by His Majesty's ships, and I warned the Chinese Government that not only would this course be pursued as long as proved necessary, but that China would continue to be held responsible for all losses to British life and property arising out of their neglect.

No reply has yet been returned by the Wai-wu Pu, and in view of the prolonged stay of the Viceroy Tsen in Shanghae, en route for Canton, it is not probable that they will commit themselves to any further expression of views before the Viceroy's arrival at his post.

i

With regard to the Viceroy Chou Fu's scheme for placing guards on the launches plying on the Canton waterways, I have the honour to inclose copy of a communication addressed by Mr. Mansfield, under my instructions, to the Viceroy, stating that the Regulations providing for such a scheme could only be accepted on the understanding that it was a complement to the scheme for cruisers under Customs control.

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

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Sir J. Jordun to Prince Ching.

Your Highness,

Peking, July 3, 1907. SINCE the piracy of the British steamer "Sainam" on the West River in July 1906, the question of taking adequate steps for the suppression of piracy and the super- vision of the waterways of the Canton delta has formed the subject of lengthy personal In the course of these inter- negotiations between your Highness' Board and myself. views it was recognized on both sides that the existing methods were entirely unsatis- factory, and it was sought to come to an arrangement which would inspire coufidence among both foreign and Chinese merchants. After much deliberation it was decided that the Revenue Council would furnish 2 lakhs of faels to be devoted to the purchase of four revenue cruisers which would be placed under the control of the Imperial Maritime Customs, and carry on board military and naval officers, as the representatives of the territorial authorities, whose duty it would be to capture and deal with pirates whenever found.

It is already two months since I reported this scheme to His Majesty's Government as an arrangement definitely decided upon by the Chinese Government, and I shall be glad if your Highness will inform me what measures are being taken to put it into effect. The neglect of the Chinese Government to police her inland waters has obliged His Majesty's Government, at great expense and inconvenience, to undertake as far as possible the protection of British commerce in the Canton delta by patrolling it with her gun-boats. This procedure, derogatory as it is to the dignity of China, will inevitably continue as long as China fails to establish effective measures for the suppres- sion of piracy, and the responsibility for all losses to British life and property, occasioned by the existing want of precautions, will continue to be laid at the door of the Chinese Government in the form of claims for compensation.

I avail, &c. (Signed)

J. N. JORDAN.

[2621 cc-4]