893.2221/11–2944
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Stevens) to the Secretary of State 27
[Received December 28.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that the recently inaugurated “Join the Army Movement” for educated Chinese youths gained momentum throughout November in the provincial capitals of Kansu, Tsinghai, and Ningsia. Figures are not yet available here for the recruitment of youths in Tsinghai and Ningsia, but Kansu’s quota of 10,000 was reported November 28 as being two-thirds completed. The Lanchow municipal area exceeded its quota of 1500 by 502, including 102 girls.
In the beginning, the youths (ages 18 to 35) were nearly all drawn from middle schools and colleges. Many who did not volunteer were selected by lot. Misgivings over the probable treatment that would be accorded after entering the regular army caused resort to various devices for escaping enlistment. It became necessary for the authorities to make definite promises of treatment more favorable than that usually accorded Chinese soldiers. Members of one of the first groups of volunteers to leave Lanchow were told that they were being sent to the United States for technical training before being assigned to combat duty in China. Other inducements included contributions [Page 199] by institutions and organizations affected to the families of volunteers. Kansu College contributed a total of CN$100,000, and the North West Highway Administration gave each of its 250 accepted volunteers NC$5,000. Each Lanchow Municipal Government employee who enlisted was given NC$100 a day before departure from Lanchow.
Respectfully yours,
- Approved by the Chargé in China for transmission to the Department.↩