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recruiting Officers on matters pertaining to the men such
as travelling allowances, advances &c.," "1
1
2.
A perusal of the correspondence
referred to elicits the following:-
In raising the question of the
enlistment of the fighting races of India by Governments
in the Far East the Government of India was originally
actuated by the desire to restrict the emigration of those
races,
because the recruitment for Indian Regiments had
become difficult. During the discussion of this matter a
new aspect presented itself, and the Government of India
while recognising the right of British Colonies to employ
these races in their armed Constabulary and Police, and
not objecting to their use by weak or friendly states such
as Johore or Siam, became impressed with the danger of
allowing these races to enlist in the service of nations
who were our rivals, and might be our antagonists in war.
In order to give effect to their views they desired
primarily that all men recruited for service in British
Possessions or at Chinese Treaty Ports should be repatriat-
-od at the end of their service. They further desired that
recruitment should take place in India, except in the case
of the Straits where an Ordinance existed prohibiting the emigration