Extract from letter from Mr.P.P.J.Wodehouse to
Mr.Stubbs, Colonial Office, dated
4th December, 1911.
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317
Things are perfectly quiet and normal here
now. The intense excitement roused by the rumour that
Peking had fallen has now quite subsided.
The place,
however, is full of bad characters from Canton, in- cluding many prisoners released from Chinese gacls.
We had the usual spasmodic increase in the Police
Force, which I object to so strongly. Badeley and
Lyons can never be got to ask for steady increases
from year to year in proportion to the growth of popula-
tion. Half the trouble with us is that we are constantly
undermanned, but the C.S.P, never dares to ask for men
for fear of making himself unpopular with the Gover- ment. It's a silly policy. The Governor has been worrying the Police tremendously during the last month.
The wretched Lyons is constantly being hauled over the
coals, and is probably very glad that he has only a
few more days to serve. I can't say to what extent I am supposed to be involved. The Executive Council the
other day passed a Resolution to the effect that the
administration of the Force by the senior officers both
now and when Badeley was here gave cause for misgiving,
and that unless confidence was restored it might be
necessary to ask for an Officer from outside. I have no means of ascertaining whether the term "senior officers" includes me, though, if it does, it includes
Hallifax