LIVERPOOL UNDERWRITERS' ASSOCIATION.
RECEIVED
183
EXCHANGE BUILDINGS,
22 JAN 30
COL. OFFICE
Sir,
LIVERPOOL.
6th January 1930.
"
4
PIRACY IN CHINESE WATERS.
The recent attack by pirates on the S.S. "Haiching" accompanied by a deplorable loss of life, following similar attacks on other vessels in Chinese waters during recent years, has emphasized in the minds of Underwriters the seriousness of the position which will arise in connection with British vessels trading in those waters if the decision which we understand is in the mind of the Government - to no longer supply Naval or Military guards on board steamers after the 30th April next is carried out, without provision being made for the satisfactory replacement of the guards in question. Even under the prosent arrangement we are aware that it is not found feasible to supply Naval or Military guards for all the British steamers which may require them, and the result of this is that tho so steamers which are unable to obtain such guards find themselves obliged to refuse to carry shipments of treasure or to embark
Chinese passenger's
.except possibly to a very limited extent
As a consequence of this, much of the coastwise and local passenger trade, and also carriage of treasure, is being
diverted to steamers of other nationalities, such as those
Dutch steamers which are supplied with guards of Javanese
soldiers. Should the decision to withdraw the guards from
British vessels altogether be carried out, we have little
doubt that the result will be an intensification of the
pirates' activities, especially in attacks on British steamer
The Right Honourable J.RAMS AY MACDONALD,
Prime Minister, His Majesty's Government,
10 Downing Street, LONDON.
as.
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