Evening star., 1923-05-11
China PROMISES
i T0QUELL BANDITS
Peking Officials Will Consider
General Policy to Ex-
terminate Outlaws.

Chinese government officials have
promised Jacob Gould Schurman, the
American minister, at Peking, thai
they will consider a general policy
for the determination of bandits" In
China as soon as the present sttua-
tiop growing out Of the capture OF
American and foreign citizens by
brigands in Shantung has been ad-
Justed.
Minister Schurman reported the
promise in dispatches received today
by the State Department telling OF
a conversation he had with Military
Gov. Chi. The governor. he pointed
out, is a powerful adherent of Mar
shal Taso Kun, who Is the prop OF
the Peking government along the
lower YangtZe."
Expects Release Soon
Gov. Chi said that liberation Of the
foreigners held by the bandits was
expected at any time and that the
bandits would be paid a ransom by
the Chinese government.
Minister Schurman invited the seri-
Gus attention Of Gov. Chi to further
delay In release of the capttves. add
ing that "One day might cause the
death of a Foreigner by starvation
or shooting and an internationai
complication might be precipitated
by one such death"
State Department Active.
The American minister's report
encouraged officials here to hope for
early action for relief of those held
prisoner. but 1t was said that efforts
in their behalf would not be relaxed.
The State Department again was in
communication with the Chinese
legation and DR.. Alfred SEE. the
Chinese minister. had an engage
ment to see President Harding late
in the day. His call was described
as merely a courtesy visit. but 1t was
taken for granted that the President
would take occasion to reiterate that
the American government looks to
the authorities at Peking to hasten
release of the captive3
The State Department made public
this summary Of its advices from
China:
The Department of State received
information from Shanghai to the ef-
feet that Minister Schurman on May
10 had a long conference at Marking
with Military Governor Chi. who Is a
powerful adherent of Marshal Tsao
Kun, and who is the prop Of the
Feking government along the lower
YangtZe. Gov. Chi stated that at the
very outset he had sent troops. and
that he now had advisers in Lincheng
in order to assist in bringing about
pacific arrangement with the ban
dts for the liberation of the foreign
erS held prisoners on the understand
ing that the bandits shall be paid a
ransom by the Chinese government
Trying to Get Food.
"Gov. Chi stated that after the case
Rad been settled the Peking govern
ment would consider general policy
for the determination of bandits The
governor went on to say that the
government was endeavoring by
means Of the natives Of the locality to
get food and clothing to the foreign
captives.
Minister Schurman stated to Gov.
Chi that in this case time was the
most important element. that delay
of one day might cause the death of a
foreigner by starvation or shooting.
and an international complication
might be precipitated by one such
death.
The Peking government. Marshal
Tsao Kun, the Shantung military
governors and Gov. Chi all believe
that liberation of the foreigners may
be expected at any time.
Destroyers Ordered Concentrated.
consul General Edwin S. Cunning
ham reports from Shanghai that F.
w. Pratt and Mrs. Pratt Of Richmond,
Va. were not on the captured train
and are now in Shanghai"
Concentration of three divisions of
Ans rt fno
pair craft at Tsingtao. the former
German base on the Shantung penin-
sular, was noted in naval orders pub
lished today. but was declared official
ly to have no connection with the
bandit raid.
Routine movement of naval ships, 1t
was said. called for the transfer Of
the auxiliary t1otillas In summer from
Philippine to China waters and their
return to the islands in the winter.
The first orders for the gathering OF
destroyers at Tsingtao were issued in
April. officials added, several weeks
before the hold-up Of the Peking ex-
press.
Minister SEE said today that al
though he had no new advices re-
garding the progress of negotiations
for release of the prisoners, he felt
confident that his government was
doing everything possible and that
definite results. would be obtained
within another twelve hours.
The minister pointed out that the
bandits We're equipped In some cases
with automatic firearms that could
only have been obtained in violation
of the general agreement among the
powers that no arms would be per-
mitted to reach lawless bands in
China He suggested, therefore, that
the Kicking government could not be
held entirely responsible and that
the foreign governments should take
greater pains to enforce their pledge
against arms shipments.