893.20/12–1844
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Rice) to the Appointed Ambassador in China (Hurley)40
Sir: I have the honor to report as follows remarks made to me by a responsible Chinese officer in regard to the conscription, treatment, training and behaviour of Chinese Central Government troops in the Shantung–Kiangsu–Honan–Anhwei border area. This informant, who during the past seven years has been in charge of an intelligence organization functioning in that area, impresses me as being intelligent, frank and sincere.
Summary: The informant states that in the Shantung–Kiangsu-Honan–Anhwei border area conscription is on a corrupt basis whereby [Page 211] all but the poorest people are able to evade military service. Conscripts are ill-treated and are given little or no training. Army officers engage in trade and in smuggling narcotics while their soldiers live off the people. Guerrilla units practice extortion against transient merchants and local well-to-do elements. As a result of maladministration the military, instead of having gained the cooperation of the people, have aroused hostility and opposition. End of Summary.
[Here follows detailed report.]
Respectfully yours,
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Appointed Ambassador without covering despatch; received January 24, 1945.↩