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Chinese Government in regard to the "Tai-on" case, with the result that they have agreed to co-operate with His Majesty's Government in formulating a scheme of joint action in the matter in concert with the Government of Hongkong and the British Naval Authorities.
The Secretary,
SIR,
to the Chamber of Commerce,
London.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) RALPH PAGET.
China Association to Foreign Office.
China Association,
London, 3rd June, 1914.
At a meeting held here recently my Committee had before them the question of the constantly recurring outrages perpetrated by pirates in the waters of Southern China.
They desire to support in the fullest manner the request of the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, endorsed by the London Chamber of Commerce, that His Majesty's Government may bring such pressure to hear upon the Chinese Authorities as will cause them to deal effectively with the evil without undue delay.
It will be within your recollection that this Association had the honour of addressing you on several occasions in 1906 and 1907 with regard to almost identical outbreaks of piracy on the West River. It was then pointed out that the headquarters of these desperadoes were well known to the Authorities and that if strong ineasures were taken to deal with these villages it would have a salutary effect. My Committee are still of that opinion. They are glad to learn from the Foreign Office letter to the London Chamber of Commerce of the 28th May, which has been supplied to this Association by the Chamber, that the Chinese Government have agreed to co-operate with His Majesty's Government in formulating a scheme of joint action in the matter in concert with the Government of Hongkong and the British Naval Authorities.
After consultation with experts who have intimate knowledge of the conditions prevailing, we would respectfully suggest that the only really effective means of suppressing piracy would be the institution of a regular convoy of passenger steamers engaged on the Hongkong-Canton service, between Cap-shui-mun and Whampoa and the reverse, and for those engaged in the West River service, between Cap-shui-mun and Wang-mun and the reverse, It has been pointed out that of late nearly all the piracies have taken place between the points indicated. Cap-shui-mun and Wang-mun are
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situated in the deita of the Canton and West Rivers, and are to all intents and purposes on the open sea; so that not less than four vessels of a sea-going type would be required for the work. My Committee at the same time wish to record their opinion, that, although the searching of all passengers prior to embarkation at Hongkong is thought to be impracticable, the occasional search of individuals, specially of suspicious-looking characters, should be continued, as a precautionary measure calculated to act as a deterrent. In August, 1906, we wrote that if the local Authorities willed the end and would employ the method, a British Naval Officer might be relied on to produce order within twelve months, if authorized to organise and control a force of Chinese with sufficient and appropriate craft for the service.
H.M. Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Office,
Downing Street, S.W.
I have, &c. (Signed) F. ANDERSON,
Chairman.
NOTE-The reference in the above letter to "a consultation with experts" relates to an informal meeting which took place at the offices of Messrs. John Swire & Sons yesterday (3rd June). Advantage was taken of the presence in London of Captain W. E. Clarke, Secretary of the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Co., to talk over the general question of piracies in Southern China, specially with a view to offering to the Foreign Office some practical suggestion for dealing with the evil. There were present, besides Captain Clarke, Messrs. H. W. Robertson, Colin Scott, F. Anderson, C. H. Ross and the Secretary. The meeting lasted nearly an hour, and the subject was considered from all points. The suggestion that passengers should be searched before embarkation at Hongkong, and that their baggage should be stowed below, was found to be impracticable. Captain Clarke said he had naturally given much attention to the question and he was convinced that the only effective means to suppress piracy would be the convoy of river steamers on both their upward and downward trips, between the points mentioned in the foregoing letter-practically across that 40 mile stretch of open sea which forms the estuary of the Canton and West rivers. (The West river itself is under the patrol of three gunboats, the "Robin" and others, and Whampoa is but 15 miles below Canton.) Gunboats of the "Robin" type were too frail and altogether unsuited for service on open water of this nature as it was often too rough to be safe for them, and bence being lonely and unpatrolled nine-tenths of the piracies of recent times had occurred in that vicinity. He considered that at least four vessels would be required for the work. After some discussion it was agreed that the proposal should be submitted to the Foreign Office as the beat, and so far as could be seen, the only solution available; but the feeling of the meeting was not entirely sanguine that it would be adopted by H.M. Government, cheify because it offered no finality.-H. Q. W.
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