London, Sept. 20.
Reuter has been informed here that all possible endeavours are being made by the British authorities in China to secure the release of the two prisoners in the hands of Manchurian bandits.
The British consul at Newchwang is working under the superintendence of the Consul-General at Mukden, Mr. A. E. Eastes.
All the British officials concerned are working in the closest possible touch with all the authorities concerned to obtain the release of the Tokyo, Sept. 21.
The capture of Mrs. Paw-ley and Mr, Corkran was the subject of a discussion between General Muto, the Japanese commander-in-Chtef in Manchuria, and Mr. A. E, Eastes, the British Consul-General at Mukden, according to official despatches received here to-day by the Foreign Office, Mr. Eastes is stated to have called on General Muto on Monday and to have made a request, on behalf of Dr. Phillips, that the Japanese military authorities should promise immunity to Mrs. Pawley's captors if their captives are released.
He also asked the Japanese military authorities not to obstruct a Chinese by the name of Wang Teh-chun, who has already received the permission of the Manchukuo authorities to act as a go-between for the purpose of effecting the release of the captives.
Expressing regret at the capture of the two British nationals, General Muto replied that it would be necessary to consider the question of immunity for the bandits, but promised to urge the Manchukuo authorities to ensure that Wang have a free hand.
Later Japanese press messages from Mukden report that, following a conference there this morning, the Japanese military authorities agreed to accede to the five-fold request made by the British Consul-General, Mr. A. E. Eastes, The request includes a promise to safeguard the Chinese intermediary between the bandits and Dr.
Foreigners here, however, em-. phasise that no such warning, official or unofficial, was ever given.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.