CO129-532-6 Anti-piracy guards 2-1-1931 - 26-8-1931 — Page 34

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pirate the ship.

6.

According to information from a trustworthy

source, the China Merchants Company are finding the

question of anti-piracy precautions a source of

considerable perplexity.

Precautions are taken

sporadically, but the company show a reluctance to adopt

systematic measures, their attitude being partly

influenced by the fact that searches of passengers are

apt to cause difficulties and friction.

7.

The adventures of the "Hain Ming, however have

ventilated the whole subject and caused it to be seriously

discussed, especially with reference to the steamers which

supply the nightly passenger and cargo service between

Shanghai and Ningpo. This important traffic is shared

between three Chinese shipping companies and Messrs.

Butterfield and Swire, who have one steamer on the run.

At the end of January, after the second "sin Ming"

incident, the association of Ningpo residents in

Shanghai addressed a strongly worded letter to the three

Chinese companies, representating that the time had come

for the Shanghai Ningpo steamers to be provided with

guards. Considerable discussion ensued, and is still

continuing, between the three companies (whose principal

spokesman in the matter is Mr. Yu Ya-ch'ing) and the

Chinese authorities.

The companies have agreed in

principle that guards should be furnished, and, with a

view to providing for the necessary expenditure have

announced that the rates on cargo between the two ports

will be increased by twenty per cent. as from 18th February.

This seems to be the only definite step so far taken,

and several important points are still under consideration,

as for instance, the type and strength of the guards

which should be enlisted, and the source from which they

should be supplied (the first proposal that they should

be