The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-13
DROPS QNtE
 FROM MRVICE  .SecretaryS 4nox Asks For
 gssignation. STATE SECRETS WERE BARHD lnteriew In Western Newspaper
 Objectionable. BesA of stats Depsrtu,sa4 Issnss Let ter 0awisE Reasons fer Recalling Departing Minister DesIg-
 nate so China.

~iohe, VI CHlSaso, Mlnlster ueslBnate to China. today was practically de- posed by a demand from Secretary Knox for his resignation.
 Thus new chapter in American di- | piomacy was written. A citizen chosen With special regard for his qualifica- | tfons for the post was recalled before he had embarked from San Francisco and discharged from his high ofice be- | cause of alleged indiscreet disoi osur es through the press. Moreover, this Min ister. breaking through all the old tra- ditions. insisted on defending himself from the aspersion cast upon him by the Secretary of State by the issuance of statement which most people here comment on as certain to be very em- barrassins to the administration
 The history of this very extraordi- nary affair which began about a week ago with the announcement that Min ister Crane had been stopped at San Francisco at the moment of embark alton for his post by demand from Secretary Knox for his return to Washington. reached at least It's first crisis soon after noon today, when the Secretary, in a formal statement, announced that Mir. Cranes resigna ton had been invited, and the Min tster designate replied in an equally formal statement tht while his re- si6hhIaVh AlIchuy Had been ten0ered to the President, he felt himself very unjustly treated. Moreover, Mir Crane In his statement, reflected very severely upon the officials of the State Department. charging that not only had they refrainsd from giving him the instructions usually issued to a Minister or Ambassador about to leave for his post but that he had been de- nied access to them even after he had made repeated appointments with them.
 He enters q sweeping denial of the charge that he gave out" a newspaper story which Is said to be the cause of his deposition. and places squarely on the shoulders of President Taft terances he has made regarding con- ditions in the Far East which have aroused the Ire of Secretary -Knex md fo final action upon his resigna- ton.
 Knox Makes stasenent.
 In announcing his action, MT Knox gave out the following statement, adding that he would have nothing to add 10 1t:
 The department of state has been engaged for some time in making the usual study of the recent agreements between China and Japan in relation to Manchuria from such data bearing upon the situation as it was able to secure with a view of determining whether there Is anything in the agreements adversely affecting Amer ican Interests or in conflict with the principle of equal opportunities to which the powers are pledged: a study not yet concluded and in respect to which no decision has been reached.
 While this investigation was pro ceeding. MT. Crane. the minister to China. came to the department and while there was informed by one of the clerks that such an examination was being made.
 '"Without consultation with the act ing secretary or any other responsible officer of the department and without the knowledge or authority of any one connected with the department, MT. Crane gave out c newspaper story to the effect that this government was preparing O protest against some features of the agreements and that the promulgation of the protest only awaited the return of an ofhcial who was to formulate it.
 "Ths story appeared in a Western paper and st the same time or day later. in the Japanese papers and subsequently was generally published. Such were the representations made to me October 1 by the responsible of- fcers of the department of state. ac- oompanied by their statement that thev had sufficient reason to believe them to be true. Whereupon I sent MT Crane at San Francisco the fol- lowing telegram, dated October 3. 1909:
 "ResponsibIe for Canards."
 "'You have been charged with the responsibility for the canards recently appearing in ths Japanese ani Ameri-
 hat hn ed States is preparing to protest against the Chinese Japanese agree ment The evidence that you are re- sponsible for this is of such charac- ter that warrants me to direct you to oome to Washington at once and meet if. If you are not responsible as hope you are not, matters relating to oriental affairs have developed since you left Washington to make It ad- visabla for me to communicate with you personally and in the utmost con hdencs in relation thereto
 "At A conference with MT. Crane Sunday evening he admitted having an indiscreet talk with reporter which resulted in the publication re- ferred to and assuming responsibility. stated that if the indlscretion was great enough to shake my commence fr his usefulness, he would willingly .astsn I have reluctantly reached the concluston that the good or the ssrV- ice demands that I should inform MT Crane that his resignation will be ao- aented and have done SO.
 sr crane. after receiving Secre- tar~ Knox's letter calling for his res i1nstion was shown copy Of MT. Knox's statement and read 1t atten- lively. Returning the paper to the re, norter who brought 1t. ne reinaFAea that the matter was one too serious 10 he discussed off hand
 What Crane Says.
 1,ater MT. Crane gavee out the fol- lowing statement n
 "Ths statement issued by the De- O.rtmant of State Is slightly inac- rmrsta in saying that the Secretary has informed me that my resignation Tii1 ,.J he accepted. The letter received Sror, Mir Knox at noon today says thst he has recommended to the Pres ident that the President accept my re- siSnstion. Before this letter had been received by me. I had already sent to the President. through his secretary, Mir. Carpenter. the following tele- ,"Washington. D. C., Oct. 12. President William H. Taft:
 "' 'The State Department objects to asrtaLn thinks have done in the ef-