The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-22
Time Past When ParIeys Can
Save Captives Held By Chi
nese Outlaws, Foreign COL
ony In Pekin BeIeVes-U. S,
S. Citizens Still Face Death
CONCERN NOW FELT BY
STATE OFFICE LEADERS
Hughes Has Not Yet Decided
To Use Force In Securing
Release OF Captives-Be-
lieves Best Can Be Accom-
plished In Regular Way

BY RAY G. MARSHALL
PEkING, May 21.-The time has
passed when parleys will accomplish
anything toward release of the for
eigners held captive by bandits in
the mountains of Shantung. The
powers must now decide whether to
use force.
AS result of this opinion. held
to man by foreign representatives,
who have investigated the situation
in the bandit area, diplomats are in
close touch with the governments,
discussing what action should be
taken.
Foreign commercial organizations
are pressing their respective lega-
tions to use extreme measures toward
effecting release of the prisoners.
The government having failed to
reach any terms for settlement with
the bandits, the matter is now
squarely UP to the legations.
Threat OF Death.
Failing a settlement the most
favorable outlook for the prisoners,
as the situation exists now, is in
definite captivity under the most try
ing conditions. A most serious pos
sibility also rests in the threat of
the bands to kill their prisoners If
troops harass their mountain strong
threatening to kill two foreigners il
Chinese troops are not withdrawn.
expires tonight.
Finally the bandits secret agents
are communicating with bands
throughout Shantung and adjoining
provinces with view to enlisting re-
orcements-action which carries
the possibility of the whole country
side being swept by bandit warfare.
PESsIMISTTC REPORTS
RECEIVED At CAPITAL
WASHINGTON, May 21.-Pessimts-
tic reports were received today from
American officials in China as to this
probability of successful negotiations
between the Chinese government and
bandit leaders for the release o.
American and other foreign host
ages held by the brigands AS re-
suit, concern was felt in government
circles, but the state department was
not swayed from the conviction that
the only practical means of dealing
with the situation was through the
Picking diplomatic council
So far as could he learned, no nova
was afoot to intervene from Wash
ington in Minister Schurman's eff
forts, in association with diplomatic
colleagues, TO bring about the release
of the captives unframed 1t was
made plain that the Washington gov
eminent was relying on it's represen-
tatives on the scene to consider
every angle of the admittedly deli
cate situation and find the most
hopeful course to pursue. The posi-
ton is taken here that any other
course might be fraught with extreme
danger to the captives.
Oppose Direct Negotiations
The department received no addi-
tional Information today, so far as
its published statements show, with
respect to earlier advices that the
bandits intend to kill two of their
prisoners if their terms are not
complied with by tomorrow Dis
patches from Consul Davis and Major
Phlioon. relayed by the Peking lega-
ton. expressed the opinion, how
ever, that the negotiations with the
briGands would he futile unless
there was at least unofficial for
eign Intervention in the CONVERSE
lions. They reported that Roy An
derson, an American of long resi-
dence in China and with personal ac-
quaintanceship with some of the ban
dts. had volunteered to join with the
Chinese authorities in new efforts to
reach an agreement, provided he was
clothed With full powers to act by
the Chinese government.
Lacking such a deVelC pment IL was
the opinion of the American observ-
ers that there remained only a resort
TO direct negotiations by the foreign
governments, presumably through the
agency of the diplomatic council and
the brfgand leaders. situation which
the Picking diplomats have thus far
sought to avoid.
Question
At the state department IL was
emphasized that the immediate ques-
ton of obtaining the release of the
captives and the future one of secur-
ing t0reigneR in China against SINH
lar outrages hereafter are regarded
as distinct and separate problems.
The immediate question of getting
bandits to release their hostages,
however, Is filled with grave diff
culties and danger for the prisoners
and 1t is for that reason that the
Washington government is leaving IL
in Minister Schurmans hands. 1t is
felt that any interventicn from
Washington. unless such a course
We're recommended by Mr.. Schurman.
might precipitate the very contin-
gencies that he is seeking to avoid
retaliation on the prisoners.
Inquiries in diplomatic circles here
held by the European powers SO far
as could he learned, the plight of the
captiVes in China has not become the
subject of diplomatic exchanges be-
tween the Washington missions and
I