CO129-521-2 Piracy in Chinese waters- anti-piracy measures 9-1-1930 - 10-4-1930 — Page 167

177

Copy.

Via Siberia.

No.1789 (4/75.7.)

(314/8/10).

Copy to C-an-C

Shanghai G.O.C.

Hon Kong. Canton.

British Legation,

Feking,

12th December, 1929.

sir,

The attempted piracy of the Douglas steamship

"Haiching" of which full details were reported in the

Commander-in-Chief's telegram to the Admiralty Number

798 of December 11th, raises once again the question of

the onus of responsibility for the protection against

pirates of British shipping in Chinese waters so long as

the Chinese government are themselves unable or unwilling

to fulfil their proper responsibilities in this respect.

2.

That the attempted piracy did not succeed, and

that the "Haiching" was not added to the long list of ships

taken to Bias Bay and there looted was evi ently entirely

que, as the Commander-in-Chief observes, to the spirited

and courageous resistance of the Captain and Ufficers (to

whom all honour is ue and whose bravery will I hope be

suitably recognised) and to the excellent anti-piracy

organisation of the "Haiching". The value of internal

defence measures on board ship has thus once more been

proved.

3.

It is a remarkable fact that this is the first

instance of un attack by pirates on a vouglas st amship

The Right Honourable

Arthur Henderson,

...

&C..

80.,

Foreign Office.

whce e