Evening star., 1922-01-21
CHINA ASKED TO REDUCE
EXCESSIVE ARMY FORCES

The twenty-second meeting of the
Committee on Pacific and far eastern
questions was held yesterday after
noln. January 20. 1922. at $3.50 O'Clock
in the Pan-American building.
The chairman (Mr. Hughes) called
the meeting to order and asked IL
any committee was ready to report.
Senator Underwood said that when
e:a report of the committee on the
customs tariff in China came before
the full committee there was a rec
ommendation that a resolution be
passed in reference to the disband-
meat of certain military forces in
Ct:na. 1t was referred back TO the
subcommittee with the request that
she resolution be presented. he had
drafted a resolution which mad me.
with the approval of the members OF
vhe subcommittee. but there was a
slight modification of 1t that the
Chinese delegation desired, Whlch ne
thought would meet with the ap-
provai of the delegates. He sald ne
world read the resolution as orig
fnA,ly prepared and then the mool-
fication. He first read the resolution.
Army Cost Heavy.
'whereas the powers attending
this conference have been deeply I'M
pressed with the severe drain on the
public revenue of China through the
maintenance of excessive mlItary
forces in various parts of the cGun-
try, most of which are controlled by
the military chiefs of the provinces:
And whereas the continued MAIN
fecance of these forces appears to he
mainly responsible for chinas pres
ent unsettled political conditions.
"And whereas it is felt that large
and prompt reductions of these forces
will not only advance the cause OF
China's political unity and economic
development. but Will hasten heI
financial rehabifitation:
.sTherefore, without any intention 10
interfere in the internal problems OF
China, but animated by the iesir@
to see China develop and maintain
for herself an effective and stable
government alike in her own interest
and in the general interest OF trade:
And being inspired by the splrir "r
this conference, whose aim is TO re-
duce, through the limttnti M of arma-
ment the enormous dispurse"e nus m
greater part of the incumberance
upon enterprise and national pros
perity:
"It is resolved: That, .his conference
express to China the earncss hope that
Immediate and effectiv. steps may
be taken by the Chinese government
to reduce the aforesaid military forces
and expenditures"
Offers Change in Wording.
1t, had been suggested, senator I'm
asrwood said, by the ''hinese dele
cation, that instead of the first para
graph. the following paragraph
should be substituted.
Whereas the powers attending this
conference have been deeply impress
ed with the severe drain on the pub
lie revenues of China through the
maintenance in various parts of the
country of military forces. excessive
In number. and controlled by the mill
tary forces of the provinces without
co-ordination-
The rest of the resolution was to be
unchanged.
He pointed out that the substance
of the paragraph was not changed.
and suggested. the adoption Of the
resolution with the amendment as
suggested by China.
Sir Robert Borden said:
THE resolution now presented was
inspired by sincere and earnest de-
sire to aid the purpose of the Chinese
people in establishing stable govern
meat and in freeing the country from
the incubus of excessive militarism
The appointment of military gov
ernors for the provinces which was
initiated shortly after the inception
of the republic by the then presi-
uShI, uhn SHl hdi HAS Hdu du uH =
fortunate effect and operation since
his death.
The power of these governors has
increased to such an extent that the
central government at Peking exer-
cises very little control over large
pAsc Of the country. In fact. the
military governors have become mill
tary dictators within their respective
psov.nces or spheres of influence:
armies: they form combinations
among themselves and struggle for
ascendancy, and at intervals they die
ta-a the personnel and policy of the
central government. That government
vA1ison with the power of the mill
tary governors and is only recognized
by the latter in so far as it suits
TIER interests. This system has con-
tho Ugh it is entirely alien to the
habits and traditions of the Chinese
people.
up to the present there has been an
unfortunate lack of such organizing
ca;Ac.Iy as would establish strong
and stable central government and
bring the country once more under
its effective direction and control. For
such a purpose the provision of great
revenues or the placing of large
finds at the disposal of a weak ad-
ntnistration is not of itself effective.
So long as the military governors re-
tAtn their present dominating au-
shority and influence, such financial
70 very great extent by these mill
tk-y chiefs instead of being employed
TO cut down their power.
Estimnte 1:OOO,OOO Under Arms.
EXACT accuracy in any statistics
0f military forces and expenditure in
China at the present time cannot be
expected: but reasonable estimates
fnfa hnr Of
arms at not less than one million; at
least the pay roll probably includes
that number. 1t is confidently as
Serted that more than half. of the
total revenues of the country are
employed in the unkeep of these
forces. They have not been raised for
rhe> defense of the country against
ss.tside aggression; on the contrary;
c-iey are really maintained for the
purpose of civil war. and when on
active service they are fighting
against their own countrymen en-
listed under the banner of some other
military chieftain.
In one province. which is said to
be exceptionally well governed by
man who devotes his whole atten-
tion to the welfare and prosperity of
his district. a considerable military
force maintained as a necessity to
his prestige is made to do duty in the
construction of excellent roads. In
vancement of the people are said to
be Hquite remarkable, and they give
an illustration of what the Chinese
people may accomplish under good
government.
'sThe forces enlisted under the va
regard their military duties as en-
tireIy occupational. and it is believed
that they would be quite ready to
accept employment in the construc-
A s1xxrt, ~ IL, ~