CO129-507-3 China- anti-piracy precautions 31-10-1927 - 25-10-1928 — Page 38

Tel. No.-Vict. 9400.

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to :--

The Under-Secretary of State,

The War Office,

London, S. W. 1,

and the following number quoted.

/3576 (M.0.1).

Sir,

1

NATIONAL

SCHEME

FOR D

LED

MEN

DISABLE SECRET

THE WAR OFFICE,

90

LONDON, S.W. 1.

13 October, 1928.

38

!

I am commanded by the Army Council to state for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that, as a result of the Anking piracy, a request has been received from the Admiralty that military guards should be provided for ships plying on Singapore Hong Kong

Amoy routes.

2.

Swatow

-

The Council has authorised the General Officers Commanding in North and South China to provide guards up to a strength of 6 officers and 120 men in addition to guards already found by the General Officer Commanding, Malaya.

At the same time I am to say that the Council are of opinion that the provision of guards of this size over a prolonged period will adversely affect the organization and training of the troops and cannot be continued indefinitely.

3.

The Council have had under their consideration the report on anti-piracy measures forwarded by Sir Miles Lamps on contained in Foreign Office memorandum No. F 8918/41/10 of 29th November, 1927, and I am to say that it appears from this report that if owners and ships officers were to take measures of internal defence open to them, including the utilization of the Indian guards organized at Hong Kong for the purpose, together with such measures as voyaging in company in Chinese waters, the necessity for providing military guards would be largely diminished.

4.

I am to add that the Council hope that Mr. Secretary Amery will agree with this opinion and will

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

/impress