The Washington times., 1923-05-11
WAR LORDS
CONFER
AGAIN
Nontinued from First Page.)

NOlLlnuGu lrOIIl L lISL EdSSsJ
national complications, according
10 a warning served on authorities
in Marking by Jacob Gould Schur
man, the American minister to
China, the State Department an
nounced today.
Schurman advised Secretary q
State Hughes that he had told Gov
ernor Chi, the chief official in
Marking, that time was now the
most important element in the
situation, and that the immediate
release of the captives was es-
sential to avoid possible death and
resulting trouble between the Pek-
ing government and other powers.
In Contact with Bandits.
Governor Chi informed the Ameri-
can Minister that his representatives
were now in contact with the bandit
leaders in the vicinity of Linchtng,
and that the bandits had been as
sured that Peking was willing to put
up the money necessary to ransom
the prisoners.
When the American and other for
eigners are liberated, the Chinese
authorities, according to Governor
Chi, will inaugurate a military cam
paign to bring an end to bandit &C.
tivities.
The State Department made the
following announcement:
1.-THE Department has received in
formation from Shanghai to the ef-
feet that Minister Schurman on May
10 had a long conference at Marking
with the military governor, Chi, who
is a powerful adherent of Marshal
Tsao Kun and who is the prop of
the Picking government along the
lower Yang-tze.
Governor Chi stated that at the
very outset he had sent troops and
that he now had advisors in Lin
cheng in order to assist in bringing
about a pacific arrangement with
the bandits for the liberation OF the
foreigners held prisoners on the un-
Outstanding that the bandits shall
be paid the ransom by the Chinese
government. Governor Chi stated
that after this case had been settled
the Picking government would con-
slider the general policy for the ex-
termination of bandits. The COVER
nor went on to say that the govern
ment was endeavoring by means OF
the natives of the locality to get food
and clothing to the foreign captiVes.
Minister Schurnlan stated to
Governor Chi that in this case time
was the most important element.
That delay of one day might cause
the death of a foreigner by star.
walton or shooting, and interna-
tional complications might be pre-
cipitated by one such death.
THE Pel1in Government, Marshal
Tsao Kun, the Shantung mill
tary governor, and Governor Chi
all believe that liberation of the
foreigners may be expected at any
time.
"ConsuI-General Edwin S. Cum
ningham reports from Shanghai
that F. w. Pratt and Mrs. Pratt,
of Richmond, Va. were not on the
captured train and are now in
Shanghai"
Fear Increase of Bandits.
Despite the promises of the Chi
nese governors at Marking to ex-
terminate the bandits, F. r. Ed
ridge, chief of the Far Eastern
division of the Department of Com
merce, expressed the opinion today
that bandit activities would increase
because of the weakness of the
EONCA at
Eldridge pointed out China is the
lowest taxed nation in the world,
the people paying but so cents per
capita annually, against $85 in
Great Britain, $45 in France, So in
Japan and $50 in the United States.
China raises $25O,000, 900 annually
in taxes.
A 30-cent increase per capita in
taxes would restore China's credit,
provide for liquidation of the 5000.
600. 900 national debt and make pos
sible the establishment of real
authority in the central govern
ment, according to Eldridge.
To a weak, impoverished govern
ment Eldridge attributes conditions
which made possible the capture of
many foreign passengers from the
Picking express and the defiant at
titude assumed by the brigands
toward not only China but the great
powers of the world.
Two Pledges Already Broken.
The wobbly government at
Picking has broken definitely two
OF the pledges made at Washington,
according TO the American view.
point, which already has been pre-
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