The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-05-17
Showdown
Denag'.s,Z
of Cks'<+se
,es
Diplomats aS .'ekin Send
Sharp Note Regarding Cap
tives Held by Outlaws
Sanctions" Increased.
Bandity Is Spreading


department was informed late today
that a joint demand was presented
by the foreign diplomats at Pekin
this morning for a showdown on the
Chinese bandit situation.
The demand called for exact infor.
nation as to why negotiations for
the release OF foreign captives held
by the bandits have broken down. 1t
was presented by Portuguese Minis
ter Batalha DeFretias. dean OF the
diplomatic corps.
The communication also demanded
that the Chinese government outline
what It is doing at the present time
to secure the release of the prisoners
and what it proposes TO do in the
future. The Chinese were reminded
that the time limit for the liberation
of the foreigners had expired. and in.
formed that sanctions" of increasing
severity would be applied for each day
they were held by the bandits.
The joint note was handed to the
Chinese foreign minister. Minister
Schurman reported to the department.
because Of the complete BREAKDOWN OF
negotiations between the central gov
ernment and the bandit chieftains.
Troops Ready for Action.
Other dispatches received az the
State department from Pekln and
Lincheng reported the spread OF ban
ditry throught China. American
troops stationed at Tongshan were
prepared for action on the morning
OF May 13. when bandits attempted
to rob a bank there. The troops
feared that tho bandits might try to
loot or destroy railway property
which they were charged with pro-
tecting.
The salt revenue office maintained
BY the Chinese government at Peitaibo
was raided by bandits on the night Of
the same day. They are said 10 have
obtained considerable sum OF money
from the raid. Several merchant
shops also were looted.
Other bandit raids were made at
Hankow and Pirac. The latter town
is not far from Pekin.
One report here today stated that
three Chinese captiyes were thrown
over cliff by their captors Tuesday
as grim warning that the foreigners
held would meet with a similar fate
IL the terms of the bandits were not
agreed TO at once.
Lives in Danger.
State department officials have re-
ceived no confirmation OF this re-
port. II is admitted. however. that
all information received by the de.
partment indicates clearly that the
lives of the foreigners are in greater
danger than has been believed. and
! that the danger is increasing with
I the passage of each day.
Summing up the latest develop
nents. including the breakdown Of
negotiations for the release OF for
eigners, spokesman for the State
department declared that the situa-
ton was very grave.
1T certainly IL not getting any
better from day TO day" he added.
This serious view OF the situation
was expressed upon the receipt of
official advices from Pekin and
Lincheng that the negotiations for
the liberation OF the American cap.
I tsFNo nave
Z Bandits Renew Demands.
/ Pekin. May i6.--Tsking advantage
of the withdrawal OF pursuit pend
ing negotiations for ransom OF II
Americans and other foreigners. the
| Chinese bandits have moved deeper
into the mountains OF Lincheng with
their prisoners. and have renewed
their demand for $4,000 600. threat.
ening death to all their captlves IL
tho demands aro not met
News OF this action reached here
this afternoon. almost Al the same
time that the diplomatic body an.
nounoed that withdrawal OF recogni.
ton Of the Chinese government by
the powers is being considered as a
result Of the bandit raid
This announcement was made after
a second note had been handed to
the Chinese foreign office on the
KIDNAPPING, a note decidedly stronger
than tho first communication.
The diplomats we're Informed that
the Chinese minister OF communica.
tion has offered 10 go into the bandit
stronghold as hostage TO secure
release OF the foreigners, hut whether
the bandits will accept the offer Is
not known.
A dispatch from Linehene said that
the Chinese delegation negotiating
with the bandits had replied TO the
demand for 100000 by offering
$500. 900 for the immediate release OF
the foreign captives.