The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-10-15

from facts commonly known. The
substance, if not the full text of the
agreement, had been published and
its effect had been widely discussed" "
An an illustration of this he re-
ferred 10 a dispatch published in
New York from Toxic on September
9TH.
"The publication complained Of by
the State department was not made
until September q. This also has a
significant bearing on the reference
to recent canards' in the Secretary s
telegram to me at San Francisco.
An Explanation.
"In order to understand how this
matter came to be mentioned it is
necessary to make a brief explanation
When I accepted the appointment of
minister to China, at the request of
the President, and afterward, he ex-
pressed the earnest wish that the peo-
pie Of this country should be reused
to a keen interest in the Pacific stu
alton, both commercially and politi-
cally; he felt that our greatest prob
lem lay there, and that our people
were not fully awake to its import
ance. AS stated in a public address
in Chicago, on September IA, the
President advised me to accept all
available invitations to public meet
ings and dinners, and said:
" do not miss any Of them, and
when you go to one insist on speak
ing and let them have it redhot.'
II assumed that the President
wished me to discuss realities and not
platitudes. I have not had experience
as public speaker and it was and
is a difficult role, but I have done my
best to carry out the President
wishes.
No Instructions From Department.
"The difficulty has also been in
creased by the absence Of specific in
structions from the State department
and Of any adequate discussion with
its officials as to the policy of this
Government. I have been much
gratifed that no criticism had come
to me from any official source until
I was recalled to Washington last
week
"With the previous approval Of
the President I had arranged to go to
China by way of Europe so that I
might have conferences with well-in-
formed and influential persons of
widely divergent interests and points
of view, and I had made many val
liable appointments. It was then
suggested by Mr.. Knox that it would
be better for me to proceed by way
Of the Pacific. Contrary to my un-
derstanding this matter should be
fully discussed with the President in
conference with Secretary Knox, the
Secretary Informed me that it would
be unnecessary to see the President,
and that I should proceed by way Of
Japan. It was then agreed that I
should sail on October 5 with the
minister to Japan.
Snubbed by Department?
II was told that letters would be
given to me and arrangements made
for seeing important persons in ia
pan. I have not since then seen Sec
retary Knox, except on last Sunday,
nor have I had any adequate discus
sion with the department as to its
policy. Some days before the date
set for my departure. I came to
Washington, and with considerable
difficulty, made a number Of appoint
ments with the First Assistant Sec
retary Of State, no one Of which did
he keep or explain his failure to
keep. No papers, not even my official
credentials. were ready for me when
I left Washington for San Francisco
with just time to catch the steamer. I
have not examined the papers from
the State department, which reached
me in San Francisco after the Secre-
tary's telegram recalling me to Wash
ington.
"As I was hufriediy. leaving Wash
ineton. 4 representative Of az i'm
portant paper asked me about the
China-Japan agreement, and I said |
that the matter was under considera- !
ton. as was we'll known. but that no
decision had been reached, and 7 may
have said. although I do not recall
It. that obviously no statement would
be prepared in the absence Of Mr..
Hoyt. I advised him TO get thor