393.1111 Baker, Charles/3: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Adams) to the Secretary of State
13. My No. 12, January 20, 4 [3] p.m.4 The Oahu, with an American missionary named Whitener acting as interpreter, has obtained [Page 466] the following information from the senior Chinese military officer at Yochow:
Baker is a prisoner at Hunghu (Red Lake) and not at Pailochi. Hunghu is half way from Pailochi between the Yangtze and Han Rivers. Some 50,000 or 60,000 troops would be necessary for successful military action against Baker’s captors and such operations would most probably result in the murder of Baker. Whitener believes that the payment of ransom offers the only hope of obtaining Baker’s release and states that in his opinion Hankow is the best place from which to conduct negotiations through some middleman.
General Ho Chen-chun doubts that Baker has been taken to Hunghu and believes he is at Pailochi or Chuho on the Yangtze River. General Ho promises prompt investigation and effective action but I doubt his ability to fulfill the promise of effective action unless he means that he will pay the ransom demanded by the bandits. I have not been able to obtain from him any definite idea of his plans beyond the telegraphic inquiries which he is making and his statement that he is sending officer to make personal investigation.
The Oahu appears to have obtained all available information at Yochow and Pailochi and I have therefore postponed the plan to send Clubb to join the Oahu.
Legation and Nanking informed.