Peking's Protectors Showing an Interest in Prospects of Salary Peking, Sept. 4.
In view of, the importance attaching to the financial position of the Central Government during the next few months, which is likely to have a strong bearing on the peace and order of Peking no less than on trade prospects generally, the following translation of a memorandum to the Government from the Chiefs of the Metropolitan. Police and Gendarmerie, dated August 26, is of interest:—"So long as the political situation in China remains unsettled, so long must the finances be increasingly difficult to handle. This condition has caused the various departments of the Central Government to remain without their official salaries for more than ten months, although they send in repeated and almost daily requests.
"Bor the maintenance of order in Peking all are dependent upon the Metropolitan Police and Gendarmerie, but if the wave that is passing over the country of asking for pay' by direct action should extend to these local guardians of the peace, the situation will become dangerous. The total pay of the three forces—gendarmerie, Puchun (infantry patrols) and police—is about $500,000 a month. During the course of the present year only three months' pay has been received in all, though various sums have been advanced to the men by their Chiefs. The continued maintenance of order it Peking is thus in jeopardy, and these troops should be paid without further delay."'—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.