New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-11
CRANE UNDER A CLOUD
RUMOR OF ALLEGED SERI-
GUS INDISCRETION.
Minister'S Reference in Chicago
Publication to the Chinese-Jap-
dneSe Status Blamed.

to Washington by Secretary of State Knox as
he was at the point of sailing from San Fran
cisco to assume his duties as minister of the
United States to China was occasioned by de
velopments involving the question of Mr.. Cranes
fitness for that post. This much is known to-
night in we'll informed quarters in Washington.
Unless Mr.. Crane is able to clear himself in the
eyes of Secretary Knox of an accusation of a
serious breach of what the State Department
regards as the first principle of diplomatic dis
cretion the conference with his official chief
may result in the abrupt termination of Mr..
Cranes connection with the diplomatic service.
Mr.. Crane arrived in Washington late this af-
ternoon from his hurried journey across the
continent, reiterated his declaration of igno-
rance as to the occasion for his rather dramatic
recall from the waters edge of the Pacific. and
declined to discuss the matter in any of its
poets, beyond saying that while he expected to
be here several days he had reserved new
commodations for the transpacifc voyage on
the steamer sailing from San Francisco on Oc-
tober 2O-a week from next Wednesday.
The State Department has in hand, 1t is said.
what it regards less convincing evil
dence that Minister Crane. on the eve of his
departure for the Far East, became responsible
for the publication in Chicago newspaper of
what the department views a most indiscreet
! discussion of the attitude of the United States
| toward the two treaties recently negotiated be-
tween China and Japan. This he department
holds to have been the serious because
that attitude is still under confidential consid-
GRAFTON. no decision having been arrived at
AN INDISCRETE PUBLICATION.
While the speeches delivered by Mr.. Crane
| before the American Asatic Association and at
| a dinner given in his honor at Chicago are
viewed at the State Department as having been
at best unwise and undiplomatc, they had been
| carefully considered after their delivery and
| before Mr.. Crane started for San Francisco, and,
although deprecated, were not regarded as justi-
flying any change in his plans.
The Chicago publication falls. however. in the
eyes of the department. into a category very diff
ferent and far more serious.
China and Japan early last month entered into
treaties which contained provisions regarded by
the State Department very surprising and
possibly Objectionable to this government. BY
these treaties Japan would secure rights in Man
| churia which are held by some diplomats to be
I'm direct violation of both letter and spirit of
| the Portsmouth treaty. China has agreed in
the treaties now under consideration that before
extending her present railway system in Man
cIlIria she shall consult Japan, and presumably
| obtain her consent thereto. This provision is re-
garded inharmonous with the declaration of
Japan in the treaty of Portsmouth, that she will
not obstruct any measures taken by China for
| the development of her empire.
Another provision relating to the operation of
| coal mines both sides of the Antung- Mouk-
| den and South Manchurian railway it is thought
| NAV be Objectionable to this government as
violating the policy of the "open door as berlln
| by the United States and subscribed to by Japan
as well by all of the leading powers Of
| Europe. This open door policy" is intended to
! assure equal opportunities all nations to
| assist in the development of China without i'm
pairing her territorial Integrity.
| Matters of highly confidential nature with
| respect to the position of the United States re-
| garding these and other provisions of the
| treaties between China and Japan are alleged 20
have been divulged in the Chicago publication
| and for these disclosures the State Department
| is disposed, in the absence of proof to the con-
trary. to hold Minister Crane responsible Ac-
| cording TO authentic information obtained here
to-day by The Associated Press. it is of this re-
| sponsibility that Mr.. Crane had been summoned
to Washington from San Francisco to acquit
| himself
The officials Of the State Department are cx
tremeIy reticent the whole subject most of
them affecting entire ignorance of it, and all
| referring inquirers to Secretary Knox, who up to
| late hour tonight was Inaccessible. Mean
while morrows developments are awaited
with an interest which may fairly be described
as intense,
\ PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE"
| Late tonight it became known that during
| the evening MIR. Crane had had preliminary
| conference" with Secretary Knox and Henry Nj
Hoyt, special counsel TO the secretary.
When Mr.. Crane returned TO his hotel he ad-
| mitted that he had seen Mr.. Knox ana that in
this preliminary conference" the matters at
| issue had been discussed. lie was evidently
deeply concerned about the situation but re-
! fused to say a word about IT,
win you resume your journey to China 90 Nh
! Crane was asked.
Il am under salary" he replied, and subject
10 orders"
Mr. Crane told mis- interviewers that upon his
| arrival in Washington he had received note
from John w. Foster ex-Secretary Of state and
Minister to China, ana now special adviser 10
the Chinese government ma its American lega-
ton. He declined to divulse the nature Of the
! communication of the conference which he
said lie had lad with MIR. Foster
Mr. Crane said il was his desire to conclude
his business here SO as to catch the steamer
Korea sailing from San Francisco on the 20th.
| on which he has engaged passage.
At Secretary Knox's house all information re-
garding the conference with Mr.. Crane was re-
fused. but Mir Hoyt admitted that there had
been a conference.
THE CASE OF SENATOR BLAIR
A case similar in some Of its aspects to THAI of
! MI Crane occurred about twenty years ago
when China objected to tie appointment of the
then United States Senator Henry w Blair. of
New HAM shire, minister To that country
Mr. Blair like Mr. Crane. had reached the Pa
cife coast cn his way TO the Orient when h.s
further progress was stopped ~ a dispatch
from the Secretary of State ordering him back
TO Waahi, gton.
ire FIr H.