CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 526

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constituted a direct challenge to the lamas and the lama system. The antipathy was sceial, religious, racial, moral, and even financial, for the Mission used to rescue unlucky debtors from the grasp of lama Shylocks, and thus "bring down the rate of usance here with us in Venice."

For some time before the present rising, the lamas had been unusually quiet, but when a storm had been brewed by Chinese misdoing, it was sure to break over Tseku.

Probable Cause of Events.-1t is impossible to say what will happen next; much depends on what happens at Batang. It is reported that the Szechuan Government is acting with vigour, and is severely handling the lamas at Batang. In that case the disturbances in Yünnan will probably subside, as the lamas of Atentse, though numerous, are not an organized force, have no large supply of food, and are receiving no support from Thibet. The immediate danger is not from the few thousand insurgents, but from the rabble of Chinese soldiers at Wei Hsi, where the population has taken to flight; food is at famine prices, and there is little or no transport available to bring up supplies. The country is of extraordinary difficulty, consisting of huge ranges and precipices crossed only by snow-bound passes or by goat-tracks, and of roaring torrents crossed only by single ropes. It is to be feared that it will only remain for the troops to return to their natural predatory avocations, and “with boisterous sword enforce a thievish living on the common road.” If they get pillaging across the Yang-tsze into Chung Tien they will infallibly raise that country and its powerful lamas, whom the prudence of the Chung Tien Sub-Prefect has up to the present kept quiet.

Misgovernment of the Viceroy. If only the mandarins and their disorderly crew had kept away from Atentse, or if a capable and honest man, with a small and efficient force, had been sent and supported, there would never have been any trouble. But public disorder is the necessary and natural attendant of a Viceroy like the feeble Ting. Since he assumed the government he has had one serious rebellion per annum, and will no doubt keep up his average so long as the Chinese Government is ill-advised enough to continue to trust him in a great post. Yet the province is perfectly easy to govern, and all that is required is that there should be at the head of affairs a hand strong enough to restrain the minor local officials from systematic extortion and wrong-doing, and that a small force should be maintained at a few important points, consisting of troops who are fit to do something beyond stealing chickens, smoking opium, and catching lico. Once this not excessive standard of efficiency is reached, public order will maintain itself; by insisting on this we have restored a very fair semblance of order in Chinese territory along the Bhamo frontier, where constant disturbances, the work of official pests of various kinds, used to be the usual condition.

In a province which is limitrophe with French and British territory over a long and wild frontier, I respectfully submit for consideration that His Majesty's Govern- ment have a right to insist that the administration should be conducted with a little more regard to modern requirements. If the French take this opportunity of pressing for a reform in the personnel of the Yunnan Government, I, for one, venture to hope that such a demand will enlist your support. Signs are not wanting even here that the Chinese are alarmed and nervous concerning Thibetan affairs, and the attitude of the Government of India in relation thereto, and it is probable, I venture to submit, that any representations from you on the subject at the present juncture would carry great weight.

Mr. Forrest has lost property and money to the value of about 2,000 tuels, besides his valuable scientific collections. I am in correspondence with the Consul- General on the subject, as you will probably desire this matter to be dealt with locally in the first instance.

I have, &c. (Signed)

G. LITTON.

idential.

1905.$1

th. West China

71905 $1

519

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State,

and is directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

to transmit, to be laid before the Secretary of State for

further section ♦ of confidential

The Colonies

correspondence, as marked in the margin.

0

8122

Foreign Office,

November 22.

1905.