In 1897, President of the United States William McKinley named Cridler Third Assistant Secretary of State, with Cridler subsequently holding this office from April 8, 1897 until November 15, 1901. In that capacity, he was present in Paris for the signing of the Treaty of Paris (1898). He was the U.S. Special Commissioner to the 1900 Paris Exhibition and wrote a special report to the United States Congress about the Exposition. During this visit, the Government of France made Cridler an officer of the Legion of Honour.