The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-10-21
CRANE 0USTED FOR
INDISCREET TALKS
Knox Requested Resignation Which is
rendered by Chicago Man.
Japan-Cbina Pact Subject OF In
quiry-New Minister Magnifies
And Divulges Fact Which
Reaches Nippon-He offered To
Step Aside--Secretary Thereupon
Concluded To Accept.

Washington, d. C. Especially A
the request of Secretary Knox
Charles r. Crane, United States
minister to China, has resigned ant
his resignation has been accepted
Mr, Knox announced Mr.. Crane,
withdrawal, and in a statement ex
plains his reasons for separating the
chicago man from the service
President Taft has been informed oi
Mr.. knox's action.
In his statement Mr.. Knox says:
Il have reluctantly reached the
conclusion that the good o; the serv.
Ice demands that / should inform
Mr.. Crane that his resignation will
be accepted and | have done So"
The reasons for the action of the
department are the newspaper
stories recently printed concerning
aftairs of the Orient. The Secretary
says of this in his announcement:
The Department of state has
been engaged for sometime in maxi
ing study of the recent agreement
between China and Japan in rela-
ton to Manchuria from such data
bearing upon the situation as 1t was
able to secure with a view of de-
termining whether there is anything
in the agreement adversely affect
ing American interests or in conflict
with the principle of equal oppor-
tunity to which the powers are
pledged; study not yet concluded
and In respect to which no decision
has been reached.
While this investigation was
proceeding Mr.. Crane, the minister
to China, came to the department,
and while there was informed by
one of the clerks that such an ex-
animation was being made. With
out consultation with the acting sec
retary or any other responsible Off
Ger of the department. and without
the knowledge or authority OF any
one connected with the department,
Mr.. Crane gave out newspaper
story to the effect that this govern
ment was preparing to protest
against some features of the agree
ment, and that the PRONUNCIATION of
the protest only awaited the return
of an official who was to formulate
1t.
"The story appeared in a Western
newspaper, and at the same time or
day later in the Japanese press.
1t subsequently was generally pub
lished. Such were the representa-
tions made to me October l by the
responsible officers of the State De-
partment, accompanied by their
statements that they had sufficient
reasons to believe them to be true.
Whereupon / sent Mr.. Crane at San
Francisco the following telegram
dated October 8. 1909:
"'You have been charged with
the responsibility for the canards re-
Gently appearing in the Japanese and
American press to the effect that the
United States is preparing to pro-
test against the Chinese-Japanese
agreement. The evidence that you
are responsible for this is of such a
character as warrants me in direct
ing you to come TO Washington and
meet It. II you are not responsible,
as | hope you are not. matters re-
lating to Oriental affairs have de-
veloped since you left Washington
that make 1t advisable for me to
communicate with you personally
and in the utmost confidence in rela-
tion thereto
"At a conference with Mr.. Crane
Sunday evening he admitted having
an indiscreet talk with a reporter
which resulted in the publications
referred to and assuming RESPONSE
bility. He stated that If the indis-
cretion was grave enough to shake
my confidence in his usefulness he
would willingly resign. | have re-
reached the conclusion that
the good OF the service demands that
| should inform Mr.. Crane that his
resignation will be accepted, and |
have done so"