The kidnappers had left a ransom note, but the sum demanded was so fantastic that it seemed obvious that the captors sought not so much cash for themselves, as an opportunity to embarrass the Japanese Authorities in the hope that international complications might ensue. Communications with kidnappers have been a common feature in other cases but in this case were very scarce.
A suggestion was made that the Mission write a letter to the bandits and entrust it to some peasant, who being familiar with the district, might succeed in delivering it. The suggestion that in this letter the bandits be offered immunity, in exchange for the safe return of Father Donovan, was emphatically vetoed by the Mi sion as entirely outside of their power to offer. Instead an attempt was made to appeal \to the bandits' better nature, and the\good works of Father Donovan and his fellow Missionaries were cited. In addition it was pointed out that through the Mission had been distributed about 35,000 dollars for the relief of destitute persons in that area. The authorities Were consulted with regard to the proposed. message and a copy of the actual letter was reportedly deposited at the office of the Japanese Gendarmerie, in Fushun.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.