§ 7. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of the British subjects who have been kidnapped and held to ransom by Chinese bandits during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; which of these persons 1639 have now been released by their captors; what ransom was demanded; and what amounts were paid?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEDuring the period from 1st July, 1935, to the present time there occurred only one case of kidnapping in China in which a British subject was involved. Mr. Gareth Jones was captured by disbanded soldiers in Eastern Chahar on 27th July, 1935. His captors originally demanded a ransom of $100,000 and a supply of arms. Negotiations for his release were rendered impossible by the subsequent rapid movements of the bandits, who eventually killed their captive on 16th August.