Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-10-12
CRANES FATE IN BALANCE
He is to Be or Not to Be Uncle Sans
Minister to China.
MAY SETTLE QUESTION TODAY
President Taft Thought to Have Been
Drawn Into Affair as Final
MedIator-siIence Per-
vades situation.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 11-Tomorrow will
probably see the determination of the qucs-
ton whether Charles R. Crane will be re-
quested to resign his recently acquired
office OF minister of the United States
to China or will be permitted to resume
in that capacity his journey to Peking,
whittier he was almost In the act OF sail
ing from San Francisco when peremptorlly
summoned by Secrets OF State Knox to
return forthwith to Washington and ex-
plain his alleged responsibility for his dis
closure in newspaper dispatch of sup
posedly confidential information about the
attitude of the United States toward the
new treaties between China and Japan.
Sepuohral silence pervaded the situation
all day. Secretary Knox was practically
inaccessible and other State department
officials disclaimed any knowledge of the
state of affairs Mr.. Crane himself was
virtually dumb. Notwithstanding the gen
eral expectation that he would have a
decisive conference at noon with the secre-
tary, he die not call at the department
roi so far as can be learned did he have
any conference with Mr. Knox at his home
President Tnffs Connection.
1t came at last to be believed that the
whole business has been referred by Secre-
tary Knox to President Taft. who was a
Los Angeles today. II was supposed that
kilograms had been sent to the president
last night after the extended conference al
Secretary Knox's house which followed al
most Immediately upon Mr., Cranes ar
rival here from San Francisco. 1t is as
sumod also that Mr Knox informed the
president of all the material facts in Mr.
Cranes case together with his own views
upon the subject.
All the indications tonight point in this
direction and the matter is expected &c
remain In statu quo pending receipt of ad'
vices from the president. who, it must be
remembered, is in the last analysis tho
official superior of both the secretary ol
state and the minister to China.
The interview at Mr.. Knox's house las
night in which participated Mr.. Knox, Mr.
Crane and William NJ. Hoyt. special coun
sci of the department, is believed to have
resulted in a clear understanding with re
spect to Mr.. Cranes connection with thu
publication the disclosures of which thu
State department officials so strongly de
precated.
There remains the question whether Mr.
Cranes diplomatic discretion has suffered
so great an injury in the estimation of tht
officials under whom his delicate mission
at Peking would be performed as to de
stroy his usefulness there.
Interests Well Guarded.
Whatever may be the outcome in Mr.
Cranes case. il is felt at the department
that the interests of this government il
China are for the interim I'm excellen
hands, Mr.. Fletcher, the charge now II
command there, having on several occa
sions demonstrated his capacity for gooC
work.
Students Of the situation pointed out to
day that there could arise no conflict will
Japan in this matter, since there was NJ
thought of any protest by the United
LCnntInmad On gAnnna De-