The Washington times., 1906-12-10
PURELY AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

'In response to this Mr.. Storer wrote
me a letter rendering his resignation, not
as he asserts, because OF anything Ia
connection with his visit 20 the Vatican.
but solely because Of his conduct In the
Hurst matter. In this letter in answer
To mine Of December 20. he makes abso-
lutely no aliusion whatever as 70 what I
said in that letter as t0 his call at the
Vatican this letter OF mine shows tina &
j had then never heard from him that he
called at the Vatican; and his absolute
silence at the lime shows that what ue
says now on the subject is q pure after
thought He never IN any way dissented
Tom the statements / made in these
three letters OF December Is. ., and 80;
ana IN tnis letter OF January ID in which
he rendered mis- resignation his yVbDIe
concern Was over his conduct in M.
hurst AFFAIR. His letter runs, IL part. as
follows tan the omitted parts referring
also exclusively 10 the Hurst natter:
My Dear Theodore: / md In an
BWeTlrE your letter Of December - that
l made an error OF date. The letter /
wrote Hanna. as also the writing TO
Was after I'D February. 1893 instead OF
Ia January. as ! Inadvertently stated
since then have received your second
letter Of 50 December.
Ny writing any letter In the terms
J did was lneXcuSable, and that I admit
fully and with the deepest regret.
II Ia your judgment it would
clear me in Mr. Hays ewes. viii Won
hand him the incIosed note OF personal
apology But I bsg YOU Will do this or
not as you think wise, az I must not ap-
pear 20 Try 10 escape official censurs
by personal repentance T'hersfore. give
or burn this note. as you deem best.
Not 20 justify my writing at all or in
using the language ! did, but 10 explain
tie affair. must call attention 10 the
difference OF procedure in this consular
case Hs TO what I supposed was pFecs-
dent All this is no excuse for a
public Of1Cer writing as I did outside
or the department II IN weighing the
matter Il seems as II ] by my own act
have lost the confidence of the Serra-
tary OF state. you must without regard
10 me, treat me as you would any other
pubic ofncer for the good Of the ser.it-e
Without the confidence OF the deDarr-
ment the work cannot go on BuT for
your own sake I should wish that my
leaving the service might be made to
appear a voluntary one in the spring
or early summer. AS also I think in
would be better to have il known after
June. In spite OF everything. il might
make political gossip which ] should
wish 70 postpone until the din OF the
campaign Is on l thank you. my dear
Theodore, Loyalty and sincerely. for your
letter. I never doubt your absolute 10y
atty in friendship 90 me and mine
d4tHIuily yours.
'BELLAAfY STORER.'
There could be no fuller confession
Of WrongdO!ng or more absolute throw
ing himself upon the mercy of hts
superior. II was this letter which / an
swered saying, as he had himself quot
ed, that L would treat the incident as
closed and would not accept his resigna-
tiOn, and that ] was sure that John Hav
felt as I did. With peculiar perfidy Mr.
Storer now seeks 10 turn this act Of
cordial, and think I may add generous.
friendship on my part. into an attack
upon me by treating nv refusal to ar-
cept his resignation as an Endorsement
of his position IN the matter of tie
Vatican, 70 which there was absolutely
no alluSion whatever Of any kind or
sort IN his letter Of resignation.
This bare recital OF facts is in itself
the seVerest possible condemnation OF
Mr. Storer's $ dis1Dgenuuusness.
Very truly yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
HON ELIHU ROOT
Secretary of State"
Al the White House this rDornfuu If
was said that for the present no further
statements would be- made IN connection
with the Bellamy SJoEeF incident Cbs
President. IL is understood. believes
that he has FULLY explained his side of
the matter. and unless Mr.. SJOrer makes
further statement the incident NAV
be regarded as closed 50 far as the
White House Is concerned.