ABSTRACT
The French and American treaties signed at Tientsin also mentioned the subject of piracy. The Chinese Government undertook more than it could possibly carry out in the years immediately following their second war with England. The Lords Commissioners considered that Chinese opposition to the scheme as reported by Bruce was sufficient reason for abandoning it and they were willing to take no further action until they had heard more from the French Government. Admiral Keppel reported many expeditions against pirate junks and pirate strongholds during his command, 1867-1869, but gave credit to only one American gunboat, the Monocacy, and to the Chinese cruisers for effective assistance. In proposing to them the disarmament and registration of all native junks as fundamental methods for the control of piracy, he began a period of discussion and controversy, action and retroaction, which resulted in a new order on the China Station.
