CO129-556-16 Anti-piracy measures 17-1-1935 - 27-7-1935 — Page 15

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which are adequately protected against piracy, and it

was suggested that the issue of the certificates should

be conditional upon

(a) the fitting of adequate grilles

(b) the provision of efficient guards

(c)

the provision of an efficient wireless telegraph apparatus of adequate power and a fully qualified operator, who should be employed full time on this duty.

I was instructed to furnish, without consulting the

companies, my observations on the proposal with particular

reference to its practicability from the point of view

of the existence of adequate surveying facilities in

Shanghai, and to its probable effectiveness as a means of

stimulating British companies to adopt effective anti-

piracy measures.

4. I think that with the help of the local naval

authorities there would be no difficulty in surveying

ships so far as the first and third requirements are

concerned, that is to say adequate grilles and efficient

wireless apparatus. The difficulty would not be the

surveying of the ships but inducing the companies to incur

the expense involved in complying with the required

standard. 30 far as wireless is concerned I need only

refer you to their reply enclosed with this despatch.

5. As for grilles, I personally would not care to

certify a ship as "pirate proof" unless it were so

constructed that the Chinese passengers were completely

segregated from the foreigners and crew, and the arrange-

ments were such as to eliminate the necessity for the

constant opening of the doors between the two compartments.

The

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