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controlled from headquarters outside Chinese territory.
In such cases it is only fair to recognise that the res-
ponsibility does not lie so completely with the Chinese
authorities; but their liability is still considerable
seeing that the pirated ship is taken into Chiness terri-
tarial waters and the loot landed on Chinese territory
without adequate steps being taken to prevent such a state
of affairs. In the case of piracies in the Canton delta,
on the other hand, Chinese responsibility sannot be
regarded as sɔ limited but must be considered absolute.
It is of course true that piracy, like brigandage, is
a symptom of the present lawless and disordered state of the
country as a whole and that its total eradication must await
* general improvement in existing conditions and the
restoration of authority.
Nevertheless this fast samot
absolve Chinese authorities who elain to govern from doing
their utmost to fulfil what is not only a specific treaty
obligation but a general international duty. If they are
unable to fulfil this duty they should accept the co-
operation of other rowers, and if they are unwilling to deal
with the evil, either themselves or in co-operation with
others, it seem to be the clear right of the foreign
towers concerned to tako auch Besaures as may be necessary to
protect their own interests.
Great Britain, while nover ceasing to urge the proper
Chinese authorities to take action, and while constantly
offering her co-operation, has been compelled to devise measures of her owi to meet the peculiar circumstances of the present moment, These have been partly of a protective, but sometimes of a punitive,nature,Irotection, so far as
possible, has been provided by the Royal Navy, in the form of
patrols and
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