San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-30
Rejects Majority Of De.
mands in Powers Note
on Banditry.
LIMIT ON INDEMNITY
Will Rely on Own Plans for
Proper Policing Of
Railroads.
BY CLIFFORD FOX

Special Cable to The San Antonio Light
and the Chicago Daily News.
Picking, Sept. 29.-The reply of the
Chinese government to the note of
the powers on the Linching bandit
affair not only rejects most of the
demands made on the note, but de-
precates the outrage and points ont
that under no circumstances was the
holdup and kidnapping of foreigners a
case of anti-foreign demonstration.
The outrage was an act of lawless-
ness on the part of brigands, whose
object it was TO raise siege by gov
erLment troops of other bandits sur
rounded in. their stronghold on Mont
Paoetzeku, says the note, which calls
attention to the united voice with
which the government and the people
of China have condemned the incident.
This condemnation has been more
vehement because foreigners were the
victims, asserts the note, (which in
dicates the friendly spirit of China
toward foreign nationals"
Limits the Indemnities.
Referring to demands made for
damages, the note contends that no
liability can be laid to the Chinese
government, but that in view of suf-
ferings and indignities undergone by
foreign caDtives at the bandits hands,
the government is voluntarily prepar-
ed to do what is equitable in repara-
ton and is ready to accept the gen.
eral basis of indemnities outlined in
the note of the foreign diplomatic
corps. However, China does not feel
obliged to pay supplementary indemni-
ties for claims for loss of time, sal
aries and business losses incurred BY
foreign captives.
The indemnities to which they agree
are those providing graduated scale
per day for each day spent in cap
tivity.
In explanation the Chinese reply
declares that the outrage resulted
from military pressure brought
against the bandits prior to the time
of the train holdup and that the
Chinese government does not believe
that the protocol of the powers. issued
in 1901, is applicable TO the Linch-
ing affair, because there is abund-
ant evidence of the good will of all
Chinese officialdom toward foreign
ers."
Anticipating the demands of the
powers for reorganization of Chinese
railway police. in order to protect
foreign travel, the note says that
steps already have been taken to ac-
complish this and that the government
Is prepared to engage such foreign
experts as "it may deem necessary. :"
1t adds that China considers policing
of its railways an urgent problem
of its internal administration.
Relies on Own plans.
The note states that China appre-
ciates the interest taken by the for
eign diplomatic corps in the problem
and the readiness of foreign powers
TO cooperate, but that il does not
feel free TO accept any diplomatic
corps scheme. until it has been un-
sparing in its own efforts to make
Chinese plans fruitful of results.
Attention is called to the fact that
three Shantung provincial officials al
ready have been punished because of
the train outrage and that the dis
missal of military governor Tien
Chung Iu, demanded in the powers
note. is being considered.
The note further points out that
in combating brigandage in the in
terror, stern measures have been TAX
en- by the government and that the
use of unified inter-provincial armies
in suppressing bandits not only has
resulted in travel being made safe,
but also has added security to the
lives and pr"""rtv Of foreigners in the
Interior of China.