Enclosure No.3 in Shanghai Despatch No.78 to H.B.M.Minister Peking, 13/3/29.
Copy of letter from Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Company,
Limited,
Addressed to H.B.X. Asting Consul-General, Shanghai,
sir,
Shanghai.
78
February, 9th, 1929.
We are in receipt of your lengthy despatok dated the 22nd ultimo which reached us on the 1st. instant, the subject matter being the carriage of Opium and “Pidgin cargo" on British Ships engaged in trade on the upper reaches of the Yangtze and setting forth H. M. Minister's view that, while he would be reluctant to depart from the principle that British Ships are immune from search except by offi- cials of the Maritime Customs, H.M. Goverment may be forged to reconsider the policy of immunity and their whole attitude as regards the searching of British ships by Chinese authorities if the complained of abuses are not stopped by drastic prevention on the part of the Shipping Companies themselves. Your despatch concludes with the request that we will in- for you what steps we are actually taking to put a stop to the carrying of opium and other unmanifested
cargo on our vessels.
We further note from the body of your des- patch under reply that it is because the Chinese Maritime Customs are understaffed and hence unable to carry out the duties which properly pertain to them of searching for and seizing illicit shipments
(of/
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