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so employed. Paid and led, as they would be, under British officers, no better troops could be found. Fifteen years ago I submitted to Sir Frederick Bruce, then my chief, a proposi- tion to form regiments for service in India, which, after a certain term, might be restored to their own country as part of its regular army. The idea was a great deal too novel, however, to meet with encouragement at the Yamên of Foreign Affairs, eager as were its Ministers at the time for aid against the rebels. Nor would the Chinese Government probably be more favourably inclined to it now. But I think that we could achieve what we want without appealing to the Government, and without offence to it, if the Straits Settlements were made our recruiting-ground. I have, for some time, had it in contemplation to move your Lordship to recommend the Settlements to the attention of our Colonists, whether in the West Indies, the Cape of Good Hope, or elsewhere, who are anxious to import labour.
I am guided by what I know of emigration to California. Many of the Chinese there of course have gone on their own business, and of their own free will. But many go simply as the contract labourers or employés of their own countrymen, to whom they are bound for such or such a job, or for so many years of service. This involves no kidnapping, no barracoon system. The emigrants come and go by the thousand in the splendid steam- ships that cross the Pacific. There is an equally steady flow of the same class of emigrant between the southern ports of China and the Straits, and I have no doubt that, with the aid of native agents, hundreds of Chinese might be induced to enlist for a stated term of service in India or elsewhere.
With its experience of the faction fights in which the Chinese at Singapore indulge, I can imagine that the Straits Government would demur to any longer detention of the recruits than could be avoided within its jurisdiction. They had best no doubt be forwarded at once to their destination. Once formed, I repeat that I can imagine no better soldiers, but I should never trust them without an admixture of Europeans, and it would be well at all times to leave magazines, munitions of war, and the like, exclusively in charge of the latter. Neglect of this precaution at Hong Kong would, I believe, be attended with the most serious consequences.
I have, &c.
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G.,
&c.
&c. &c.
(Signed)
P.S.—I return the papers inclosed to me.
THOMAS FRANCIS WADE.
No. 347.
T. F. W.
Governor Sir H. St. George Ord, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received October 21.)
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Government House, Perth, Angust 28, 1878.
I HAVE had the honour to receive your Circular despatch, Secret, of the 20th March, 1878,* furnishing me with instructions on certain points relating to the defence of the Colony, in view of the critical state of affairs then existing on the Continent, and inviting my special attention to the general question that I might have full time and opportunity for maturing my views in the event of any outbreak of war.
2. I have also had the honour to receive your despatch Secret and Confidential of the 26th April, 1878,† transmitting me a copy of a Report, as regards the Australian Colonies, of a Committee appointed to consider the measures to be taken for the temporary defence of the Colonies in the event of war, and your further Secret despatches of the 22nd May and 7th June, 1878, relating to the question of coal supplies, and the measures to be adopted in regard to them in the contingency before mentioned.
3. One of the principal points to which I have been accustomed to direct my attention on assuming the Government of a Colony has been the means which existed, or required to be provided, for its protection in the event of war or internal distur- bances. I did not fail to adopt this course on my arrival here, and had the prospect of war contiuued as imminent as it appeared when your earlier despatches were written, I should not have failed to communicate to you at once the conclusions I had come to on the points to which they referred, but as when they reached me I was
* No. 15.
+ No. 53.
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