The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-23
IS
ASKED IN
KILLING
Sharp Note, Containing Six
Demands, Insists SIayers of
American Be Punished.
By HARRY L. ROGERS.
International News Service.

In one of the sternest protests
since the Lusitania notes to Ger
many, the United States Govern
ment has made six specific de-
mands upon the government OF
China as a4result of the murder
of Charles Coltman, an American
citizen, at the Kalgan gate of the
great wall of China, it was learned
officially today.
Shot In COllsurS Auto.
Coltman was fatally shot by
Chinese soldiers while seated in an
automobile beside American Consul
Sokobin,> and it is regarded as a
mere accident that the consul was
not hit also.
The six demands made by this
Government upon the Peking gov
eminent are:
1. That the Chinese government
make a formal apology to the
United States.
2. That the Tutung Of Chahar, the
region in which Kalgan is located,
make formal apology to Consul
Sokobin.
8. That the responsible officials.
presumably Chief of Staff Meng
and his aide, be removed from of.
flee with a pledge that they will
never again be given official EN-.
ployment.
4. That the responsible officials
in charge of the situation at the
time of the shooting be tried under
Chinese law to determine their
exact responsibility, and if found
guilty, that they be punished in
accordance with Chinese law.
5. That the family of Coltman be
Unidentified for his death.
s. That there be a clear under.
standing that Americans in the
pursuit Of their legitimate business
may transport silver about China
independently of embargoes and
local restrictions.
Chinese Stand Displeases.
Since the case first was taken up
early last December, there have
been numerous exchanges between
the State Department and the Chi
nese foreign office, but thus far
China has failed to give satisfac-
ton. Officials here feel that the
killing was without a single palliat-
ing circumstance, and they are de-
termined to push it with the utmost
vigor until China makes satisfac-
tory amends.
Americans in China place reepon-
sibility for the shooting upon the
Tutung Chang-Hsi-YUan, head of
the Administration of Chahar, at
whose direction soldiers prevented
Coltman and Sokobin from passing
through the Kalgan gate into Mon
golia. Information just received
here indicates the Tutung had
flooded the country with paper
money, which he kept at par by
means of his soldiers. BY paying
the soldiers in paper and allowing
them to compel merchants to ac-
cept 1t at face value, the Tutung
was able within a few months to
realize considerable fortune,
though eventually all the good
money was driven out of the region
In an endeavor to correct this de-
feet, the Tutung forbade the ex-
port of silver and gold.
Though this order was rigidly en-
forced against Chinese, no official
notice of it ever was given to for
eign merchants of Kalgan, and the
foreign diplomatic representative
likewise were ignorant Of the ruI-
ing.
Coltman attempted to pass through
the gate in an automobile with a
quantity Of silver, intending to
make extensive purchases in Mon
golia. In this action he was SUP.
ported by the American consul. who
insisted that under treaty rights
American nationals were entitled to
carry on trade. and that If they
had the right to trade, they also
had the right to transport the funds
NECESSARY Tor business