This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
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the absolute necessity of paying the men regularly and in full was generally recognised, and the obvious danger of negligence in this matter was shown by the severe pains and penalties decreed by the War Office for any delinquencies in this respect. The present financial straits everywhere have, however, apparently caused the local authorities in some places to lose sight of this obvious fact, and there have been one or two cases of actual peculation.
6. Milder Code of Military Law.-A milder code of military law has been intro- duced of late, the central and provincial authorities appearing to be afraid of the troops, frequently hesitating to punish promptly and severely breaches of discipline or to uphold the authority of the officers, who, consequently, naturally fear to take the responsibility of drastic disciplinary measures.
7. Scarcity and High Prices.-These have given rise to disorder among civil population, which has reacted on the local soldiery.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
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8. Friction with the Police.-This source of trouble is one of long standing, but has increased of late with the growth of a modern police armed with greater authority than formerly. With a view to reducing this friction, the establishment of military police (gendarmerie on the Japanese pattern) to deal with military offenders was started by the War Office some time back, but they are not as yet organised everywhere, and friction with the civil constabulary is of frequent occurrence.
9. The mischievous influence of the Native Press. The men of the regular army are now more educated than formerly, and are consequently more susceptible to the influence of the press. Newspapers are much read in barracks, and frequently contain matter subversive of discipline.
10. Secret Societies.-These societies, and the revolutionary doctrines with which the troops of the Yang-tsze provinces have always been infected to a greater or less extent, have been a constant menace to the provincial authorities and a bar to confidence in the loyalty of the troops. (I well remember, in 1900, the distrust of of the soldiery and the nervousness of the authorities along the Yang-tsze concerning the "Ko Lao Hui" Society and the ruthless decapitation of its members that frequently occurred.)
Last year there was a general tendency (dictated by Peking) to abolish the old-fashioned provincial forces, consisting largely of long-service mercenary soldiers drawn from other provinces than those in which they are serving, the employment of Hunan "braves" being especially favoured along the middle and lower Yang-isze. A halt in this policy of abolition has, however, now been called, as it is recognised that this extra-provincial soldiery is valuable as a safeguard against disloyalty on the part of the regulars locally enlisted.
From hints dropped by officials (chiefly civil) during my tour, it was plain to me that the modern luchün (regular army) in the Yang-tsze provinces are not altogether trusted by the provincial governments, which, indeed, are somewhat afraid
of them.
As far as my own personal experience during my recent tour goes, I have met with nothing but kindness and courtesy from all ranks of the Chinese army whom I have come in contact with; and outwardly, at any rate, there is no show of anti- foreign feeling. It is true that the spirit of patriotism is now sedulously fostered in the army, and a marked growth of self-respect and pride in their profession is shown by the absolute refusal of not only soldiers (orderlies, &c.), but even followers (grooms and the like) of the luchun, to accept any gratuity for services rendered to a foreign officer (even when its acceptance would be known only to the recipient and the giver). Secing that the soldiers' pay is small, that they are for the most part simple country folk, and that the acceptance of presents is such a generally acknowledged feature of Chinese life, this particular form of pride appears to me a most noteworthy sign. In proportion, however, as the private soldier acquires a sense of his own importance, so also does he appear to become more impatient of control and discipline, and the more necessary does it become to uphold the authority of the officer. Failure to do this, with its natural result of lack of initiative and reluctance to take responsibility, appears to me to be at present a weak spot.
In conclusion, I would add that, so far as I can gather, the discipline of the troops in North China, which constitute the most important part of the national army, remains unaffected.
M. E. WILLOUGHBY, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Peking, April 25, 1910.
Military Attaché.
No. 1.
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RECR [Marc268 JUN 10.
SECTION 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 20.) (No. 53.) (Telegraphic.) P.
CUSTOMS succession.
Peking, March 20, 1910.
Last night I was confidentially informed by Liang-tun-yen that the Chinese Government will give the post of Deputy Inspector-General of Customs to Mr. Aglen, who will act for Sir Robert Hart. The latter is to have one year's extension of leave. I understand this appointment is to be published on Tuesday next. Mr. Aglen has always been considered to be one of the most suitable and likely candidates. He has been in the Customs Service twenty-two years, and thirteen years commissioner.
Liang-tun-yen had previously told me that, on the definite retirement of Sir Robert Hart, the Chinese Government are in favour of doing away with the post of Deputy Inspector-General.
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