393.1111 Baker, Charles/19: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Adams) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 2—9:15 a.m.]
22. 1. Panay has now received further word from Baker’s captors who have reduced their demands to $200,000 and 2,000 boxes of ammunition.
2. Ho Chen-chun now informs me that his messengers are useless in dealing with the group of bandits who hold Baker. The only thing [Page 470] General Ho will promise after repeated interviews is a military expedition against Baker’s captors. I doubt his power to accomplish this and in any event it would not help Baker.
3. I have therefore, after consultation with Admiral Williams, wired Hoyt suggesting that he instruct his agent at Ichang to proceed at once to Panay near Pailochi and conduct negotiations with the bandits in accordance with his original plan.