CO129-522-4 China inland water- river and coastal trade- smuggling by British ships 12-12-1929 - 24-3-1930 — Page 25

LS/VRH

5998/1929.c.

CONFIDENTIAL.

Sir,

Enclosure No.

25

COFY

11th December. 1929.

I am directed to inform you that copies of correspondence between His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Peking, His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai

and various shipping companies at the latter port on the

subject of the smuggling of opium and s alt on British ships have

been received by this Government. The point is made that, unless

effective steps are taken by shipping companies to prevent the conveyance of contraband on such a large scale as has been disclosed in certain recent cases, His Lajesty's Goverment will

find it difficult to maintain the immunity now enjoyed by

British ships from search except at the hands of Maritime Customs

and to withstand the claims of various preventative services

maintained by local authorities to search such ships and even to

inflict fines in the case of the discovery of contraband.

I am therefore to request that you will give this

matter your earliest and most serious attention and favour me

as early as possible with your opinion as to the possibility of

taking steps to reduce the evil of smuggling on British ships

in Chinese territory to such a degree as to justify insistence

upon the immunity at present enjoyed.

I am to request that this matter be treated as

confidential.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Sga) N.L. SITH

Jardine Mathieson & Co.Ltd.

The Hon. Mr.B.D.F. Beith.

HONG KUG.

Also to

p. Colonial Secretary.

.T.A...Shaw,Butterfield & wire, The Manager H.K. Canton & Maca Steamship Co., The Manager Douglas S.5 Co.,