CO129-515-1 Piracy- legal proceedings arising from sinking of S.S. 'IRENE' 18-1-1929 - 6-9-1929 — Page 16

in that lote, but apparently to adopt the ar-

gaments and language employed therein. In the

circumstances, however, it is now incumbent

upon His Lajesty's Government to state in detail

their attitude as to the incident in question.

3. In order that the circumstances of

the oase may be properly appreciated it is

necessary in the first instance to recall the

facts as to the reorudescence in recent yearS

of piracy off the coasts of china. The

prevalence of piracy in those waters and

the necessity for suppressing it were recog-

nised in the Treaty of Tientsin of 1860,

Article 83 of which provided that "in con-

"sideration of the injury s stained by native

"and foreign commerce from the prevalence of

"piracy in the seas of China, the High Contract-

"ing Parties agree to concert measures for its

*suppression".

After the conclusion of this

treaty Anglo-Chinese co-operation in the sup-

pression of piracy was regularly maintained,

and, thanks no doubt in part to that co-operation,

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