The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-12
Secretary Knex Notifies the
U. s. Minister to China
That His Resignation viii BE
Accepted at Once.
HEW AS READY FOR
Had Told His Chief He Was
Prepared 10 Quit.
President Taft Has E0en Told
What Is Going On.

| Washington, Oct. 12.-Secretary of
State Knox early this afternoon sent
letter to Charles r. Crane of Chi
| cago. who is in Washington, notifying
him that his resignation as minister
| of the United States to China would
| be accepted.
| Mr.. Crane had already advised the
| secretary that he was prepared to re-
sign if the recent developments had
made his service embarrassing to the
department.
Mr.. Knox has advised President
Taft of his action. 1t is taken for
granted that he will accede to the
secretary.s suggestion.
Mr.. Crane when seen at his hotel
this afternoon said he had received a
formal letter from Secretary Knox
requesting him to tender his resigna-
ton as minister to China. Mr.. Crane
explained that he had not seen the
statement given out to the press at
the state department and declined to
talk for publication until he could
read this.
Knox's Statement.
In announcing his action. Mr. Knox
gave out the following statement,
adding that he would have nothing
to add to it:
''The department of state has been
engaged for sometime in making the
usual study of the recent agreements
between China and Japan in rela-
ton to Manchuria from such data
bearing upon the situation as it was
able to secure with a view of deter
mining whether there is anything in
the agreements adversely affecting
American interests or in conflict with
the principle of equal opportunities to
which the powers are pledged; a
study not yet concluded and in re-
spect to which no decision has been
reached.
.'While this investigation was pro-
ceeding Mr.. Crane. the minister to
while there was informed by one of
the. clerks that such an examination
was being made.
without consulting with the act
ing secretary or any. other respon-
sible officer of the department and
without the knowledge or authority
of anyone connected with the de-
partment. Mr.. Crane gave out a
newspaper story to the effect that
this government was preparing to
protest against some features of the
agreements and that the promulga-
ton of the protest also awaited the
return of an official who was to
formulate it.
paper and al the same time or day
later in the japanese press and sub
was generally published.
Sent Him Telegram.
''Such were the representations
made to me October 1, by the re-
sponsible officers of the department of
state accompanied by their state
ment that they had sufficient reasons
to believe them to be true Where |
upon I sent Mr.. Crane at San Fran
cisco the following telegram, dated
October 3, 1909:
"'You have been charged with the !
responsibility for the canardS re- |
Gently appearing in the japanese and
press to the effect that the !
United states is preparing to protest
against the Chinese-Japanese agree |
ment.
The evidence that you are re- |
sponsible for this is of such a charac- |
ter as warrants me in directing you
to come to Washington at once and |
meet it. If you are not responsible, /
as 1 hope you are not. matters relat-
ing to Oriental affairs have developed
since you left Washington, to make it
advisable for me to communicate
with you personally and in the utmost !
confidence in relation thereto
''At a conference with Mr.. Crane |
Sunday evening he admitted having an
i1discreet talk with a reporter which
resulted in the publications referred
to. and assuming responsibility, stat
ed that. if the indiscretion was grave !
enough to shake my confidence In his |
usefulness he would willingly resign. |
L have reluctantly reached the con-
clusion that the good of the service |
demands that I should inform Mr. |
Crane his resignation will be accepted, !
and I have done So"
How He Made 1t Worse.
Friends of Mr. Crane have made |
the statement here during the pro- |
gress of the developments since he ar |
rived here on Sunday afternoon that |
f1Ik in I7f ~
terances by remarks which had been |
made to him personally by President |
Taft himself.
Having reference to these state
ments, it was said this afternoon in |
an authoritative quarter the depart
ment felt assured that nothing Mr.. |
Taft might ever have said to Mr.. |
Crane could be claimed to justify the
disclosures for which the present ac-
ton was taken.
And the same authority declared |
Mr.. Crane had greatly
the situation by deny
ing several times while enroute from
San Francisco that he knew why he |
had been recalled.
There is no doubt, it was declared.
that Mr.. Knox had the entire appro-
val of the president in the action he
had taken.
Knox's letter calling for his resigna-
ton, was shown a copy of Mr.. Knox's
statement and read it attentively. Re-
the paper to the reporter
who brought it, he remarked that /
the matter was toe serious to be dis
cussed offhand. but promised an in
terview later in the day.
Cancels Steamer Reservation.
San Francisco. Oct. 12-R IT. Crane,
,on of Charles R. Crane. was booked |
or passage on the Tenyo Maru which /
sails for the Orient today. but early !
a