The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-10
RIGHT BACKAT 'EM
President Roosevelt Writes
Letter to Secretary Root
Replying to the Allegations of
the Storers.
GIVES MANY REASONS
Why 1t Was Impossible to Re
tain Them in Service.
Scores Them for Making Public
Private Correspondence.

Washington. Dec. 10-President Roose-
welt has made public a long letter ad-
dressed to Secretary Root giving cor
respondence between the president and
former Ambassador Bellamy Storer at
Vienna and Mrs. Storer, in which he
says that Mr. Storerrs refusal to an
swer his letters and the publication of
various private letters justified the am
bassa 6or'S removal: that Mr. Storer's
publication of private correspondence
was peculiarly Internationally, and that
he (the president) had stated with alb
sOiute clearness his position. the rea-
son why 1t was out Of the question for
him as president, to try to get any
archbishop made cardinal. though ex-
pressing his admiration for Archbishop
Ireland as well as leaders of other de-
nomina lions.
He says he thinks it we'll that the
members of the cabinet should know
certain facts which he (StOrer) either
did not resent the action of the Storers
until it became evident they were
likely to damage American interests"
He says Mrs Storer urged him to give
her husband a cabinet place and that
she stated Mr.. ChOate at London and
General Porter at Paris were not pro-
per persons to be ambassadors, suggest
ing her husband in that connection.
The president incorporates letter from
Postmaster General COrtelyOu contra
dieting the statement that President
man to ask the pope, ''as a personal
favor to him." and as IAN honor to
the country" to appoint Archbishop
Ireland as cardinal
Mr. Cortelwou says the late presi-
dent never made any such request.
The president declares that Mr..
Storer's statement that he authorized
any such message to be delivered to
Pope Plus is untrue. He says that he
never received a letter from Ambassa-
dor Storer giving an account of his
visit to the Vatican. and Of the mes
sage he personally gave the pope on
behalf of Mr.. Roosevelt. The presi-
dents action follows the publication of
e.the confidential pamphlet" which Mr..
Storer last week sent to the president
the cabinet and the senate foreign
relations committee The letter fol-
lows:
The Presidents Letter.
THE White House. Washington.
''dy Dear Mr.. Root:
I'm view of the fact that Mr.. Rel
lany Storer has sent to each member
OF my cabinet as well as to myself a
pamphlet under date of November,
1906 purporting to give an account of
those relations of his with me which
led I'D to his removal from the posi-
ton Of ambassador at Vienna I think
II as well that you and the other mem
bers of the cabinet should know Ger
tain facts which he either suDDresses
removing him from this position
suppose there is no need of discussion.
An ambassador who refuses to an
swer the letters of the president can
not remain an ambassador.
His statement that my letters to
him were of such a character that he
could not answer them needs no fur
Their comment than to point out that
IN such cases 1t was his clear duty in
stantIy to resign.
His publication OF the various pri-
vate letters between his wife and him
self and me would furnish anv addi-
tional justification We're such needed,
for his summary separation from the
service
He does not give the state depart
ment's Anal letter to him which runs
as follows:
=. September 10, 1905: Hon. Bel
famys StOrar. Paris. France. Sir
Your letter Of August does not re-
ut1fre. any comment whole but by
direction of the president I answer It
as regards one point You assume that
ill the letter OF December II the presf-
dent wrote you not as an official of
the United States. but. a purely per-
sonaI and private letter and you state
that this letter shows on its face that
no answer from you was asked for /
suggested or expected
es.It is hard to understand your
making such a statement in view Of