Tsaochuang, May 31.
Mr. Roy Anderson accompanied by Mr. Wen Shih-tsen and Government delegates including General Chen Tiao-yuan, the Occupation Commissioner of Kiangsu, and General Hung, the Shantung Tuchun's Chief of Staff, also seven of the local gentry, conferred to-day with the bandit chieftains at the town of Wuchiaoho, one mile inside the bandit area.
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Wen, after introducing the official delegates, told them that this was purely a family affair and that every day it remained unsettled added to China's shame. Mr. Anderson said that as an American he was particularly sorry that it had happened, seeing that Amer-jeans had helped to save Shantung for China at the Washington Conference. He urged them to consider terms for an immediate settlement. ie The conference lasted five hours. Both sides were amicably inclined, and the bandits stated that they would consider the Govertiment's proposal at a conclave which they would hold.
The negotiations are to be resumed on Friday, when each side will be attended by clerks and tt is understood that General cretanes.
Chen is willing to enlist. bandits possessing pistols and automatics as well as those with rifles.
Negotiations will be resumed at the same town and practically on the same conditions as two ago when they were interrupted by the action of Wu Vu-lin and Yang J-teh. It is believed that the eurolment of the bandits will take a week's time, at the end of which the captives will be released.
Later.
From every standpoint to-day's conference with the bandit leaders was a marked success, and as evidences of good faith the bandits released unconditionally Major Allen, U.S.A. and Mr. William Smith of Manchester.
escorted to the bandit headquarters the Tender this afternoon were The delegates who conferred with
situated ina small village at the base of Padtzeku, with full military honours. They were ushered into a large room and were introduced to four chieftains assembled including the two mentioned above and two others. The first thing that the Government's delegates_asked for was the release of Major Allen, as his release was pro mised more than two weeks ago, before negotiations were broken off. The bandits acquiesced and a note was sent to the summit of Paotzeku informing Major Allen of his freedom and asking him to prepare for his journey at once. At the same time Major Pinger and Mr. Lee Solomon who have been also incarcerated on the summit were ordered back to the Taoist temple at the base. Mr. Smith's release was agreed to later.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.