CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 647

639

Notes on Piracy and its Prevention.

By the Senior Naval Officer in Charge of West

River Patrols,

Goot, the

At the request of the Sony Kony Gov portions below crossed out in red were

not published there.

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 in 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

In March last conversations throughout the country districts. were opened with the Chinese officials with a view to getting their agreement to the British Waval Forces co-operating with

After a their appointed representative against the pirates. good deal of patience and negotiation Dr. Sun's Government

It was obvious from the start that agreed to co-operation. the Chinese officials were suspicious of our motives and there was and is a strong party against co-operation with a

However after various delays a start was made foreign power. and the Pearl River area was dealt with and considered clear

then to carry on and The intention was by the end of April. deal with each troublesome area in turn, but every sort of obstacle began to arise and the Canton situation dominated

whole