Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-11

Whether or not Charles r. Crane shall
proceed to Picking in the capacity of
American minister to China seems now
to depend upon the outcome Of confer
ences between Mr.. Crane and Secretary
Of State Knox, who Unexpectedly and
rather mysteriously summoned the min
lister from San Francisco to Washington
on the eve of his proposed sailing across
the Pacific to assume the duties Of the
Office to which he was recently ap-
pointed
Many indications early today supported
the belief that the situation in which
Mr. Crane stands is exceedingly serious
and in quarters presumably we'll informed
the belief strengthened with the passage
of the hours that Minister Cranes con-
nection with the diplomatic service was
in very precarious condition.
1t was thought this morning that the
matter would not be closed up today, but
might, in fact, require several days for
final adjustment. From the air of in
tense expectancy which prevailed at the
State Department. however, it was evil
dent that any hour might bring the sit
uation to a crisis.
Mr.. Crane arrived from San Francisco
late yesterday afternoon and was closeted
until far into the night with Secretary
Knox and his special counsel, former So
licitor General William NJ. Hoyt, but moth
ing authentic was obtainable as to the ma
ture or results of that conference.
Due to Newspaper Publication.
It is known now that the immediate oc-
casion for the recall of Minister Crane
was an article in the Washington special
correspondence of the Chicago Record
Herald of September q, evidencing q
somewhat minute acquaintance with conf
dental matters. supposed to be known
only by responsible officials In the State
Department and. presumably, by Minister
Crane. relative to the attitude of the
United States government toward the two
treaties recently concluded between China
ana Japan. That publication was highly
Objectionable to the Department of State,
in that it disclosed the possibility Of pro-
test on the part Of the United States
against the contamination Of these treat
and his associates in the department have
held Minister Crane responsible for these
disclosures.
These treaties, which would practi-
cally confer upon the Japanese a mo-
nopoly Of mineral development Of Man
churia. and would also make the Jap
anese the virtual dictators Of Chinese
railway extension in Manchuria. are re-
garded by the State Department, it is
said. as destructive of the principle Of
$ha ~
Secretary Hay and subscribed to by
japan in a formal agreement with Mr..
Root when the latter was Secretary OF
State.
Regarded as Unfortunate.
The Chicago publication was regarded
as particularly unfortunate at this
time, because 1t was the purpose of the
State Department to have Mr.. Crane
take careful soundings Of the feeling
entertained among the other foreign
ministers and ambassadors resident in
Picking before any representations were
made to the Japanese government. Such
a course Is essential in order to escape
the humiliattng consequences that
might be expected to follow a protest
directed by the State Department to
Japan which would not command the
support of at least a majority Of the
great powers other than America which
had accepted Mr.. Hays open door"
policy as binding upon them.
The great success that has so far at
tended the efforts of America to keep
Manchuria's trade within reach on even
terms to all Of the powers Is ascribed to
the fact that at every stage in the nego-
Japanese war the American government
has freely advised with the great Euro
pean powers. and. indeed, with Japan in
surfing a measure of support for its propo-
sitions that prevented the formation of
even a minority party among the powers.
The publication of the Chicago state
ment has deprived the American minister
who is to represent this country at Pc
king of a considerable advantage in the
game Of diplomacy, and it may now be
possible for any power to set in motion
machinery that may defeat the whole
project. So everything is now supposed
to depend upon whether Mr. Crane shall
acuuit himself Of responsibility for the
publication.
Similar to Blair Case.
A case similar in some of its aspects
to that of Minister Crane occurred when
about twenty years ago China objected
to the appointment of the then United
States Senator Henry w. Blair Of New
Hampshire as minister to that country.
Mr.. Blair. like Mr. Crane. had reached
the Pacific coast on his way to the orient
when his rurtner progress was Sloppeu
by dispatch from the Secretary of State
ordering him back to Washington.
The episode at the time attracted .
good deal Of attention In the press and in
diplomatic circles. AS q senator from
New. Hampshire Mr.. Blair had taken
prominent part in the debates leading up
to the enactment Of the Chinese exclu
sion act law. and in the course Of those
debates had expressed himself In terms
of opposition to Chinese immigration.
He had taken what now would be called
the Californian or Pacific coast view