CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928 — Page 26

COPY.

(† 5383/43/10).

John Swire and Sons, Ltd.,

8, Billiter Square,

London, E.C.3.

October 3rd, 1928.

22 be

Dear Mr. Mounsey

You will have been informed of the "Anking" piracy,

of the tragic deaths of her chief officer and chief engineer

and of the serious wounding of her captain.

We are to-day in receipt of the following telegram

from our Hong Kong house:-

"Piracy in view of the situation

'is serious are urging Military authorities

"formulate scheme adequate guards for the

"protection of C.N.Co. passenger ships. Sentence ends.

"Have suggested Straits Settlements and

*South China Command should be responsible for the

*protection of Southern ships and that the North

"China Command should be responsible for the

"protection of Shanghai, Hong Kong and Canton ships.

"Sentence ends.

"We think that General Luard sympathises with

(our request). Sentence ends.

*If Military protection impracticable our

"opinion is British Goverment should be urged to

"reinforce Naval personnel on the China Station in

"order to protect adequately all British passenger

"ships in the piracy zone. Sentence ende.

"Officers' Guilds are telegraphing to

*London requesting cooperation with you."

Car/

G.A. Moun sey, Esq., C.M.G., O.B.E.,

Foreign Office,

8.w.1.