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(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
125
No. 234.
Colonial Office to War Office.
"}
Downing Street, July 13, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a letter from Sir Julius Vogel,* the Agent- General for New Zealand in this country, stating that his Government wish to obtain two more converted 64-pounder guns, if they can be had on reasonable terms.
2. I am to request to be informed what answer should be returned to Sir Julius Vogel's two questions.
'No. 235.
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
Governor Hennessy, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.—(Registered
July 13.)
(Confidential.) Sir,
IN dealing with the general question of Colonian defence, or in considering how far Her Majesty's possessions abroad might be of Imperial assistance, there is a special feature in this Colony that is perhaps worthy of the attention of Her Majesty's Government. I refer to the possibility of utilising Hong Kong as a recruiting ground for raising Chinese regiments for the Queen's service.
Government House, Hong Kong, May 24, 1878.
2. Having had some experience of West Indian regiments in Africa as well as in the West Indies, and having also seen the value of other native corps in different parts of the world, I believe the Colonies contain within themselves what might be made in every case efficient elements of defence, but in some cases also a not insignificant adjunct to the strength of the regular army.
3. Under European officers the Chinese would probably be found as amenable to strict discipline and as courageous in the face of the enemy as any Colonial soldiers.
4. Though the Chinese who are residents under this little Government amount only to about 130,000, yet the total number that pass through this Colony in a year cannot be far short of 700,000.
5. With a proper recruiting system I venture to think it might be possible to raise at least 20,000 Chinamen of good physique for service in India, or, indeed, in any part of the world.
6. I need hardly add that I have not mooted this subject here in any way; nor have I thought it prudent to call for reports, or to make inquiries even indirectly bearing upon it. If, however, you instruct me to do so, I would be happy to get the requisite facts together and submit them, confidentially, to General Donovan, so that he may be able to prepare a practical report on the scheme.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. POPE HENNESSY.
No. 236.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, July 15, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will inform Secretary Colonel Stanley that he has received a despatch, by last mail, from the Governor of New Zealand, expressing a hope that no delay will have occurred in shipping the armament and ammunition for that Colony, and I am to request that you will favour Sir Michael Hicks Beach with an early reply to the letter from this Department of the 27th May last on the subject.†
• No. 230.
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I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
+ No. 132.
R
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