CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9] — Page 246

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might be, a fortress, and therefore the sudden clearing

out of a large alien establishment at short notice in

war time would present many difficulties.

5.

The garrison is a very small one with

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a very extended perimeter to watch and defend and in the

event of war the control of a large though mixed and

unorganized alien civil population, in addition to the

defence of the place with very inadequate force would

tax our strength unduly, even under existing conditions.

6.

It appears to me that the wharves

offices godowe and coal stores of a big Japanese

steamship Company (and such would no doubt rapidly arise)

would necessitate the employment of a large and ever

increasing number of hands. These hands would doubtless

be Japanese and their increasing numbers could easily

escape notice by merging in the Chinese population for,

now that so many Chinamen have discarded the pigtail,

it is very difficult to distinguish a Japanese from a

Chinaman.

7.

There is already I believe a considerable

number of Japanese resident in the Colony and as universal

training exists in Japan practically every man would be

a trained soldier.

8.

Japan, Formosa and the Pescadores are

not very far distant and arms, ammunition and explosives

are sometimes smuggled with success.

9.

It is not impossible that at some

tôme within the next 75 years Japan may be hostile to us

and under such circumstances the presence in our midst

(and behind the backs of our troops who would be more thanı

fully employed in watching the outer perimiter of the place)

of such a rallying point for the assemblage of all the

Japanese in the place as would be offered by the premises

of this