CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919 — Page 81

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Enclosure to para. 29 of General Despatch No. 58 (Army), dated the 31st July

1919.

Report on the treatment of Chinese artizans as Summarised in letter No. 8 in 1069-1916, dated the 30th September 1918, from Colonial Secretary, Hongking, to the Chief of the General Staff, Simli.

Paragraph (2) of Colonial Secretary's letier,

The facts of the case are substantially as stated. The trouble was due, to a great extent, to a want of appreciation of the peculiar needs of Chinese when travelling by rail. The first cause of trouble was a demand by the Chinese for chop sticks and plates before entraining. The former were provided at once in Calcutta and put in the train, and a wire was despatched asking that the latter should be placed in the train en route. The train started late from Howrah in consequence and arrived at the first stopping place, Chakdharpur, about 3 hours late on the 30th April 1918. The men who had had a meal early on the 29th April had by this time consumed more of their rations than they ought to have done. Mr. Colin Campbell the Conductor in charge wired to the Com. mandant, Combined Labour Depot, Bombay, to arrange for rations at Nagpore and also to the Deputy Commissioner, Nagpore. Cooked rations were sent by the Commandant, Combined Labour Depot to Commissioner provided cooked rice at Nagpore. The cooked rations, chiefly Manmad and the Deputy consisting of tinned meats, were provided at Manmad after which there was no further trouble. As regards the Conductors, there are refreshment rooms en route, at which they could have been served.

Paragraph (3) of Colonial Secretary's letter.—For this contingentt hird class stock at 43 men per bogie was supplied, together with an upper class bogie for the Conducting Officer, Supervisor, sub-Assistant Surgeon and Hospital.

The Supervisor in charge, Mr. Morris, stated, on disembarking, that the Chinese were accustomed to three hot meals a day and should have their third before entraining. As there was no time to arrange this, a supply of lb. of bread per man was issued at Howrah and Mr. Morris was advised accordingly.

Rations were supplied at the docks according to the scale laid down for Chinese in Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force General Routine Order No. 241362 of 1917 with the exception of fresh meat. Mr. Morris refused this and also an offer of tinned meat in lieu, we are not aware of the reason. were provided, two days for the journey and one day's reserve, Cocking coppers, Three days ration Camp kettles, ladles, chop sticks and Chinese Bowls, sufficient for all, were also supplied. An escort of one British Officer and 30 Indian ranks accompanied the party to Bombay.

Paragraphs (4) and (5) of Colonial Secretary's letter.—Though the incidents referred to are regretted, we are inclined to the opinion that the Chinese labourer s must be regarded as somewhat difficult to please especially in time of war when our shipping was fully utilised by various classes of personnel who had to be catered for.

Paragraph (6) of Colonial Secretary's letter.—The "Santhia" had on board a Chinese contractor whose duty it was to ration the men throughout the voyage and the trouble has been due-

to the failure of the contractor to make adequate provision,

(2) to the failure of the authorities at Shanghai to advise the proper

authority in Singapore of the despatch of the draft.

On receipt of the original complaint, an officer of Army Headquarters was despatched to Calcutta to make enquiries, as a result of which complete instruc tions were drawn up, copy enclosed, for dealing with Chinese. These orders have worked satisfactorily.

This officer also arranged that Chinese should not, as a general rule, be entrained direct from the Transport, but should go to a selected Chinese Boarding House for the night. While in the Boarding House, a money allowance is given to each man in order to make provision for the train journey, and they are advised, through the medium of Chinese interpreters, of the nature of the journey they have before them and what they will require en route.

The Boarding House affords facilities for the purchase of bowls, chop sticks, and the food peculiar to Chinese, and in practice the money allowance has proved to be the most satisfactory way of dealing with this class.

Officers experienced with Chinese have also been appointed to conduct par ties to and from India. The recruitment of Chinese has now been stopped, and all those in East Africa and Mesopotamia are being repatriated as rapidly as possible.

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