[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C O
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
24838
[June 27.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
RECR
SECTION 3.
REGP 12 AUG 10
[23159]
No. 1.
Memorandum on Military Affairs on the Chinese Frontier of Burmah, with Available Forces
and Possible Lines of Advance, supplementary to Mr. Rose's despatch from Tengyuch of April 30, 1910.—(Received June 27.)
IN the event of a British administrative expedition entering the territory to the west of the Irrawaddy-Salween divide, there would be a possibility of resistance from four directions, namely:-
1. From the natives of the country, who are mainly Lashi-Kachins;
2. From the Lisu and Lisu-Chinese retainers of the various chiefs, or "fu-yis," on whose behalf claims to villages in the unadministered territory have been put forward by the Chinese authorities;
3. From the "Green Banner" troops stationed in and around Tengyueh; and 4. From the newly-raised and foreign-drilled troops quartered at Talifu.
1. In regard to the first, the records of Mr. H. F. Hertz, C.I.E., of the late Mr. Litton, and Mr. Leveson (see printed copy of "Report on Joint Survey of Yunnan Boundary, 1905 "), and the information gathered during my recent journey to Pienma, bear strong evidence that any such obstruction would be unlikely. The people in the unadministered territory do not conceal their conviction that they are in no sense subject to China; they have expressed an earnest desire for British administration, and there is undoubtedly a widespread resentment against the Chinese in consequence of the recent raid.
2. From the second group there is a possibility of resistance, and it is against this that the greatest precautions appear necessary. When passing through Mingkuang in April last the people spoke openly of the attack on Mr. Hertz's expedition in 1899– 1900, stating that they had been ordered by the Tengyueh authorities to "harry and oppose" the British, but that they had received no assistance from the Chinese, either in the way of funds or arms, and evidently considered that they had been hadly treated. It is probable that, under the leadership of the energetic chief Tso Ebr-kuan, they had then anticipated a campaign of plunder and material benefits, but it is unlikely that they will be anxious to repeat the experiences of 1900. The present chiefs are all weak and opium-sodden, and there is no one in the Lisu ranks with the personality of Tso Ehr-kuan.
The Tengkeng chief, on the other hand, has at his call a wilder and more formidable force, which could he raised from among the Black Lisu cross-bowmen of the Upper Salween. He was able to collect about 500 men for his recent raid on Hpimaw (Pienma), and his followers have returned home full of victory and plunder, so that they would probably join willingly in another expedition. The Têngkeng "fu-yi" is supported by his relatives and neighbours of Lu-ku, Lao-wo, and Mao-chao, who might together raise a considerable if ordered to do so by the Chinese. They would be armed with cross-bows and poisoned arrows, dhas and spears, with a few cheek-guns, if powder was forthcoming from the Chinese. They have a great reputation as warriors, and many of them show fine marksmanship with their cross- bows, but they take cover at the least sign of trouble, and, from my experience of them, they have neither the courage nor the spirit of the Kachin.
The **
Fu-yis" Tsai of Tien-tang, Yang of Lower Mingkuang, Tso of Upper Mingkuang, and the headmen of Tatang, might combine to form an expedition if severe pressure were applied by the Chinese, but they are weak and poverty-stricken, with but a shadow of power in their own districts, and they would be incapable of acting except under direct Chinese organisation. The Lisu population in their valleys has, moreover, been absorbed to a great extent during the past ten years, and the border inhabitants are now mainly pure or half-bred Chinese farmers, who would be very unwilling to adventure their bodies in a vain search for honourable advancement.
It is impossible to estimate the numbers which could be put into the field by
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