CO129-553-3 Anti-piracy measures 7-3-1935 - 4-11-1935 — Page 148

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their own towns. He asked if I suggested that this

permission should be given only to British boats. I

replied that I saw no objection to such permission being

given to any company supplying such means for safe

transport. I did not propose that those steamers should

be allowed to carry cargo, so there could be no question

of Likin duties, and the revenue would not be interfered

with in any way. He said that difficulties might arise

at Likin barriers where the steamers would be liable to

be searched. I made no objection to such steamers being

searched wherever the Chinese Government thought it

necessary, or to any reasonable regulations that His

Excellency might make for the safeguarding of the

Provincial revenue. (I had been informed by the

representative of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire who control

all the boats on the river, that this concession would

quite satisfy them.) His Excellency said that he would

consider this on taking over the business on his arrival

at Canton, and he saw at present no reason why the

suggestion should not be carried out. He expressed his

gratitude for the assistance given by the Naval officers

at present stationed on the West River and his regret

that one of the men had been wounded. I told him that in

rendering assistance to the Chinese Government we were

prepared to accept such casualties as are necessarily

incidental to active operations.

4. The enclosed copy of the despatch of Acting

Viceroy Te, of 10th January gives evidence of apparent

anxiety on his part to take effective measures. The

difficulty in the matter will be probable collusion of the

officers in command of the gunboats with the pirates.

When, during the Summer some torpedo boats were sent up

the