Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-21
WORRY FOR BANDIT
CAPT|VES IN CHINA
Washington Concerned Over
.Peking's Inability to Re-
lease Foreigners Held.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Worry over the plight of the for
eigners held by Chinese bandits has
deepened here. The spectacle of all
the civilized governments o. the world
1 sitting by impIoring weak central
government in China to grant the de-
| mands of the bandits for ransom and
even other concessions and discuss
details after the foreigners are re-
| leased is not one which experienced
/ diplomats like to contemplate Time
was when foreign offices were ready
10 use their entire military and naval
resources to invoke respect fer their
| demands. when even the British gov
eminent, notably more aggressive in
protecting the lives of it's nationals
! than any other of the powers, would
| issue stern warning, and follow up
It's demands without delay
REORGANIZATION Explained.
demonstration today is being ex-
cused on the ground that any often
slVe Undertaking against he bandits
W foreign troops would mean the in
slant death of the captives The Chi
nese bandits, however, are not fight
lns foreign governments. but are
ANXIOUS TO exact money and conces-
SONS from the central government in
emma. When they have added to the
| emoarrassments of the Peking au-
/ tnorlties their desire is fulfilled In
uer the circumstances the taking of
measures over the head of the Picking
| direct negotiations with the bandits
are being talked of here as the in
! evitable sequel to the present un-
satisfactory situation
| me powers find themselves more
or less in the same position in which
! they were In the famous Boxer re-
| belllon in 1900. when the Chinese
! formed society in opposition to for
eign missionaries and murdered
many of them. A relief expedition
OF $4,000 troops made up of American.
British. French. German, Russian and
japanese forces was organized and
went to the relief of approximately
goo foreign refugees held within the
walls of the British legation at
! Picking.
Picking Making Honest Effort.
There is a feeling here that the
central government in Picking today
is trying Its utmost to obtain the re-
lease OF the captives, whereas in 1900
the central government at first on
! posed but afterward encouraged the
| Boxers. III there were any certainty
/ that the Picking government could
| handle the situation today there
| would be no worry or talk of relief
expeditions. But the fear which
! seems TO be growing is that the
! Peking government is not going to
! be able to cope with the bandits be-
! cause of the numerous factions inside
! the Picking government. This makes
! II impossible to get as effective ac-
| tion as the foreign governments
! would like to see.
! Diplomacy has about been exhaust
ed at Peking and the next step is to
| deal directly with the bandits, failing
which the organization of a relief ex-
petition is inevitable to- punish the
bandits If they harm their foreign
captives or to force their release if
ithey are still held.
/ Drastic Action Seems Necessary,
! The number of foreign troops in
China is limited and there may not be
time enough to organize even present
forces to go after the captives. but
some step will have to be taken by
| the powers to restore the respect of
the Chinese for the authority of for
eign governments. Should the cap
tives be murdered and no punitive
steps be taken by the foreign powers
the chances Of a repetition of the
present troubles will increase. On
previous occasions only the strong
arm of the European powers with
whom America has as a rule Joined
has been effective in securing proper
protection for the lives and property
| of Americans and Europeans.
Copyright 1921