Arizona republican., 1909-10-13
OFF COMES CRANES HEAD
Continued from page -

minister or ambassador about to
leave for his post, but that he had
been denied access to them even after
he had made repeated appointments
with them.
He enters a sweeping denial of the
charges that he gave out" a news
paper story which is said to be the
cause of his deposition. and placed
squarely upon the shoulders of Mr..
Taft the responsibility for the various
utterances he has made regarding con-
ditiDns in the far east which have
aroused the ire of Secretary Knox.
Secretary Knox absolutely declined
to discuss the statement Of Mr.. Crane.
regarding the incident as closed As
sistant Secretary H. Wilson. who is
recovering from a severe surgical OPP
Grafton was of course. wholly unac-
quainted with the latest developments
in the case. including Mr. Cranes
references to his failures to keep APP
pointments made with him.
Cranes statement says in part: THE
statement issued by the department
of state is slightly inaccurate in say
ing that the secretary informed me
that my resignation would be accepted
The letter / received from Mr.. Knox
at noon today says he has recommend
ed to the president that the president
accept my resignation. Before this
letter had been received by me / had
already sent the president the follow
ing telegram:
Washington, d. C, Oct. Il, 1909.
President W. H Taft-The state
department objects to certain things
| have done in the effort to carry out
my understanding of your wishes as
expressed by you to me. l have care
fully considered the entire matter. In
my judgment no mistake has been
made except as the department has
made IL a mistake. However, | did not
and can not guarantee to make no
mistakes and especially, unless l have
the cordial support and cooperation
of the government.
The manner in which the depart
ment has proceeded and is proceeding
is inconsistent with my own self-re-
spect and my conception of the dig
nifty of the position and with the I'M
derstanding upon which / accepted I
appreciate the personal consideration
| have received from you and under
all the circumstances, have decided to
await information as to your wishes
before taking action. You will I'M
derstand, of course. that my resigna-
ton is in your hands.
(Signed) CHARLES r CRANE"
The statement of the department is
further inaccurate in saying that
gave out newspaper story about the
preparation of protest in regard to
the agreement between China and ia
pan. II would have been more ac-
curate if the department had said, as
indicated in its own closing paragraph.
that brief conversation of mine with
a newspaper representative contribute
ed TO the publication by him of a dis
cussion of this agreement, and the pos
sibility of a protest by this government
and that the department regarded this
conversation as 'indiscreet' The pub
lication did not mention my name. nor
in my judgment would 1t have been
mistake Of the department of state had
not chosen to vouch for its accuracy
and give to it an official significance
by its own conduct.
1T certainly contained nothing of
substance that was not a matter of
common knowledge or deducible by
any competent newspaper reporter
from facts commonly known. The sub
stance of the agreement had been pub
lished and its effect had been widely
discussed. On mature consideration il
Is my judgment that my action was in
accordance with the spirit at least of
the presidents wishes, expressed by
him to me and that it furnished no suf-
flcient excuse for the sensational and
inconsiderate action of the secretary
of state.
However, | did not seek this post
and am absolutely unwilling to remain
In 1t without the entire confidence of
the president and the cordial support
of the government"