CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 572

Resur

BIPO MOH

READY FORW

No. 29.

British Consulate, Lagasaki,

November 26, 1931.

565

sir,

I have the honour to report that I lave grounds for suspecting that the British ship "Burrumbeet" is being used to smuggle opium into China.

This ship arrived here on October 10 from Dairen in ballest in order to hav: her boilors repaired. Shortly afterwards I agreed to the discharge of the first mate on the rounds of mutual ecnsent and a new chief officer arrived here a few days ago to re lace hi and was duly si,ned on the articles. To-day the mate came to see me and asked me to arrange for his discharge and return to Hongkong+ He stated that there was something

ressed to explain what

wrong about the ship and he would not sail iz her. he meant he stated that he had discovered that the ship was to be used to smugle opium into a Chins port.

The mate's story is as follows. The ship belonged to a lersian firm in Hongkong. She cleared from Bushire with a cargo of opium. Tart of this was

the reminder was not on the down in the manifest for discharge at Dairen;

manifest. rrived in the Chinu sees, she put into Keelun, and while there was transferred by the former owners to the present owner, a Chinaman named

She then went to Dairen and on the articles as Lau Yew alias Lou Tsau Yiu. having developed serious boiler trouble was brought here after the opium had been landed. she is now to bo back to Deiren, pick up the urmanifested opium, 600 cases or piculs the mate did not know which, and land it at some port on the China coast.

I have no

The above is the mate's story of the facts he has learned. means of verifying it but I am inclined to think part at all events of it may

be true.

The story was told me in confidence by the mate who asked me to arrange for his discharge. I accordingly sent for the master and told him that the mate desired his discharge, The master said that in that case he would agréc

There the atter as the mate was unsatisfactory, being iven to drink.

stands at the moment.

I was very much struck by the master's attitude in agreeing to return

He Lave me an impression, the mate to Hongkong without argent or discussion.

which however may be unjustified, of being anxious to avoid disqussion. I consider therefore that the case merits watching.

I am sending a copy of this despatch to His Majesty's Consul at Dairen and will re ort to Your Excellency any further facts that may come to my

notice.

I should have stated that

The local agents are itsui Bussen Kaisha. the name of the former owners is Hajee Lohamed Hassan Kelazee, Honkong.

ExcelTer.cy

Rt. Hon.Sir 0. Eliot,

K...G.. 0.3., &0*, &c., &0..

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your Excellency's most obedient, mimble Servant,

(SD.) OSWALD WHITE.