CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 168

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

166

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

со

18595

[April 28.] RECO

SECTION 1.

TREG 18 JUN 101

[14532]

(Secret.) Sir,

No. 1.

War Office to Foreign Office.-(Received April 28.)

War Office, April 27, 1910.

I AM commanded by the Army Council to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that, in their opinion, the time has arrived for a reconsideration of the question of the maintenance of a British garrison and a legation guard in North China.

2. In your letter of the 13th March, 1907, in reply to War Office letter of the 4th March, 1907, you stated that it was not possible in the then existing conditions to foreshadow the approximate date of their withdrawal; but on the 30th November of the same year, Sir Edward Grey consented to the concentration of the greater part of the British troops at Tien-tsin. This concentration was carried out during 1908.

3. The subject of the withdrawal of these troops was again referred to in your letters of the 4th November, 1908, and of the 19th April, 1909, when it appeared to be still under consideration.

4. The total foreign garrisons in Northern China now consist (December 1909 return) of 4,710 of all ranks (1,957 British and Indian, 1,405 French, 622 Japanese, 219 Austrian, 151 German, &c.), of whom 1,415 are quartered at Peking as legation guards and 2,863 at Tien-tsin, without cavalry or field artillery.

5. During the ten years that have elapsed since the relief of the legations at Peking appreciable progress is believed to have been made in the formation and training of a Chinese national army on European lines, and the council are under the impression that a considerable part of the Chinese forces, especially those in the north, are sufficiently well led, arined, and disciplined to make them when in superior numbers a by no means despicable foe.

6. The four best divisions of the Chinese army, averaging 11,000 men each, are stationed in the immediate vicinity of Peking and Tien-tsin, while two other divisions are stationed within 300 miles of them, and three more in the Lower Yang-tsze Valley, whence they could be brought up either wholly or partly by rail. Thus about 44,000 trained men could be concentrated for the attack of the foreigu garrisons in a very small space of time, and supported by 55,000 others without serious delay, while numerous irregulars are available to co-operate with them.

7. The situation of the British garrison is therefore considered by the council, from a military point of view, to be a far from secure one; and unless there are strong political grounds for maintaining the garrison, and the Japanese Government are prepared to take instant steps for its support should the Chinese Government menace it or demand its withdrawal, they are of opinion that the earliest convenient opportunity should be taken of withdrawing it.

I am, &c.

E. W. D. WARD.

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