CO129-488 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1925 [1-7] — Page 118

Notes on

PIRACY

and its

PREVENTION.

By the Senior Naval Officer in Charge of West

River Patrols.

112

These notes refer purely to piracy in the waters between

Canton, Kongman and Hongkong and the Delta in between, the

question of sea-going trade on the China coast is not touched

upon.

(1) The only permanent cure for piracy in these waters is an

efficient local Government determined to put down crime and

having the necessary resources in men and money to keep up a

river patrol and a trained body of police and detectives. The

goodwill of the local gentry and village headsmen is also

necessary, whether it is obtained spontaneously or by fear of

consequences.

(2) During the last nine months conditions in Kwangtung Province

have been chaotic and there has been no law or order throughout

the country districts. In March last conversations were opened

with the Chinese officials with a view to getting their agreement

to the Dritish Naval Forces co-operating with their appointed

representative against the pirates. After a good deal of

patience and negotiation Dr. Sun's Government agreed to co-

operation. It was obvious from the start that the Chinese

officials were suspicious of our motives and there was and is

a strong party against co-operation with a foreign power.

However after various delays a start was made and the Pearl

River area was dealt with and considered clear by the end of

April. The intention was then to carry on and deal with each

troublesome area in turn, but every sort of obstacle began to

arise and the Canton situation dominated the whole question.

The British Naval Forces were practically tied hand and foot

to Canton and the defence of the great interests there.

ing with the Shameen bomb outrage and progressing through the Shameen strike to the Volunteer Arms question, which concluded

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10.

(with)