CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928 — Page 152

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considered. In my view, however, to depart from the principle that the M Customs is the only authority that can search British vessels would be mistake. The police authorities themselves would in all probability ava selves gladly of liberty to function on a British vessel, but it would be po undesirable to allow them this liberty, and, in addition, the system would be problematic advantage and would undoubtedly lead to abuse, such as extorti 9. The only way-so far as it really is a way of overcoming the diff regard to staff thus appears to be for the shipowners themselves to employ China Navigation Steamship Company apparently do at Shanghai, th Chinese detectives, or, as His Majesty's consul at Swatow suggests, a Europe an ample staff for the express purpose of searching their ships just prior to the factor of delay to which reference has already been made renders it my doubtful, however, whether even this step would be really feasible.

I have, &c.

MILES LAMPSON.