CO129-521-12 Chinese Customs- proposed agreement with Hong Kong 2-4-1930 - 16-6-1930 — Page 173

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Arrangements have been made under which Er Hacatee

will be furnished-by telephone if necessary - with such information as is available of the move- ments of suspect ships.

In addition to the above, arrangements have

been made, as the Secretary of State will be awar®,

under which the United States authorities are to be

informed of the departure of "interesting cargoes".

Whilst it is possible that it will be

necessary to defer consideration of the exact steps to be taken to secure the strict compliance with the law in regard to clearances, quarantine etc., ponding a decision on the question whether a Royal Naval boat can be stationed temporarily in the Bahamas, I am to suggest that the Registrar of Shipping in the Bahamas shoul i be authorised, as early as possible, to work in close co-operation with the United States Consul at 'assau and to communicate direct to that officer any information he may possess which tends to cast doubt on the right of a particular vessel to be registered under the British flag.

The Board understand that through the nited

States Consul at tassau, the United States Authorities in Washington will communicate to the Colonial Secretary of the Bahamas a list of the ritish boats krown to be engaged in the carriage of liquor to te amug-led into the United States, and they would be

lad if the egistrar might be instructed, upon receipt of this list, (1) to examine very closely the documents relating to such of the veacela sa may have been registered in the ahamas, (2) to furnish to the United States Consul full information as to the

registered owners etc., together with certified copies, if desired, at the usual charges, (3) to report to this

Department any facts which appear to the Registrar to indicate doubt as to the bona fides of the British

registration