15
ABA
posts in the Cadet Service, but he took the
precaution of putting into that list certain
new appointments of a suitable character in
order to compensate the Cadet Service for the
"loss" or prospective loss of 2 or 3 offices
which had in past years traditionally been
filled by a Cadet officer.
Mr. Rogers is no doubt right in
thinking that behind Mr. N.L. Smith's present
representations there is the old apprehension
amongst the Cadets that any listing of specific
posts will be to their disadvantage in view of
the encroachment on their traditional sphere
which has been manifested in the case of the
Treasurership and the Headship of the Police,
and by the creation of the Colonial Legal
Service.
In his anxieties as a representative
of the Cadet Service, Mr. N.L. Smith has
permitted himself certain liberties of language in this despatch which do not make a good
impression. Paragraph 7 is a particular
example. To my mind, and I resist being
adversely biassed by Mr. N.L. Smith's style
in this despatch, there is no sufficient
argument put forward which can fairly suggest
that Sir A. Caldecott was wrong in recommending
the reorganisation which has been approved,
but I think the best course would be to reply
to the new Governor, who is due to arrive in
the course of a few days in Hong Kong, in the
sense that the Secretary of State has no cause
to doubt Sir A. Caldecott's regard, not only
for