The Cairo bulletin., 1909-10-13
SENT TAFT TELEGRAM


this letter was received had already
sent the president the following tele-
Igram:
| The state department objects to
lcertain things I've done in an effort
| to carry ont my understandings OF
your wishes as expressed by you. In
my Judgment NO mistake has been
made, except as the department has
made IN the midst of success. How
ever, did not and cannot guarantee
to make no mistakes and especially
unless | have the cordial support AMI
cooperation of the government The
manner in which the department pro-
ceeded Is inconsistent with my own
|selt-respect and my conception OF the
dignity OF the position and with the
understanding upon which | accepted
1t. appreciate the personal consl n
GRAFTON | received from you and under
all circumstances, have decided TO
await information as to your wishes
before taking action. You will under
stand, Of course, that my resignation
| is in your hands
| tSigned} "CHAS. r. CRANE"
Further Inaccurate.
| THE statement Of the department
Is further inaccurate in saying that
give out a newspaper story about the
preparation of a protest with regard
to the agreement between China and
Japan, cit would have been more ac-
curate IL the statement had said, as
| indicated In its closing paragraph,
land its closing brief conversation of
nine with newspaper representatives,
contributed TO the publication by him,
Iof the discussion and agreement. and
the possibility of protest by the gov
ernment, ana that the department re-
sarded this conversation as indis-
creeto. The publication. In my iudg
Ement, would not have been a mistake
i il the department had not chosen to
lYoucf for It's accuracy and give it Of
fetal Significance.
III certainly contained nothing If
substance that was not matter OIL
Icommon knowledge or deducible from
facts commonly known. The agree
ment has been published and its eff
feet widely discussed.
Taft's instructions.
When | accepted the appointment
the president expressed the earnest
wish that the people be reused to
keen interest in the Pacific situation,
he felt that our greayest problem lay
there, and that our people We're not
/ fully awake to its Importance. The
lpresidelN advised me to accept all
available invitations TO public meet.
| ings and dinners, and said: Don't miss
lany Of them and insist on speaking
land let them have it red hot.
Il assumed that the president wish.
ed me TO discuss realities, not plati-
tudes I've not hal experience as a
public speaker, but have done my best
10 carry out the presidents wishes.
The difficulty is increased by the
absence Of specific instructions from
lthe. state department. and of any ade
tquate discussion with it's officials az
to the policy of this government.
Route Was Changed.
with the approval OF the president
] had arranged to 90 TO China via Eu-
rope, had conferences with well in.
Horned persons Of widely divergent
Interests and points of view and had
made many valuabfe appointments.
Knox suggested that it would be bet
ter for me to proceed by the Pacific.
My Idea was that this should be dis
cussed with the president, but the sec
rotary said 1t was unnecessary to see
the president
| u was told that letters would be
given to me and arrangements made
Tor my presentation to important per
sons In Japan. have not since seen
Knox except last Sunday, nor had any
adequate discussion with the depart,
ment as&t its policy, before my de.
loarture came to Washington and
with difficulty made number of af-
pointments with the first assistant
.secretafy Of state, none OF which he
Kept. Even my official credentials