P_X.
Secret.
Sir,
From The General Officer Cormanding,
South China Command,
To The Secretary,
War Office, Lo..don, S.V.
4568
250
IPECH
REG 29 JAN 15
Headquarters, S.China Command,
Hong Kong, 18th December 1914.
I have the honour to forward correspondence regarding the reorganisation of Indian Police and the better control of Watch- men in Hong Kong.
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The present state of things is most unsatisfactory. From very exhaustive enquiries I have made there seems no doubt that there is a very strong anti British feeling among the Indian Police, the Indian Watchmen and the Indian residents here gener- ally. From a military point of view this constitutes a real danger, more especially when practically the whole garrison is Indian. I look upon this state of things as due to two causes, 1 (1) the inferior stamp of Indian employed, (2) the fact that no one in the Colonial service has sufficient Indian experience to know how to deal with Indians, or to inspire them with that trust and confidence so necessary between the rank and file and their officers.
The matter is one which so closely affects the Army that I need hardly apologise for any apparent excursion from my own business.
I trust that the Colonial Office may be moved to act in the matter promptly, and above all that the appointment of an Indian Police Officer may be pressed for.
I have, etc.,
(Signed) F.H. Kelly, hajor-General, Commending the Troops in South China.
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