The San Francisco call., 1909-10-13
retary's telegram to me at San
Francisco.

retary's telegram to me at san
Francisco.
WISHES QUOTED
In order to understand how this
matter came to be mentioned 1t is
necessary to make brief explana-
tion. When 1 accepted the ap-
pointment of minister to China at
the request of the president, he ex-
pressed the earnest wish that the
people of this country should be
reused to a keen Interest in the
Pacific situation, both commercially
and politically; and he felt that our
greatest problem lay there and
awake to its Importance.
AS / stated in public address
in Chicago September 4, the presi-
dent advised me to accept all avail
able invitations to public meetings
miss any of them, and when you
go to one, insist on speaking and
let them have it red hot"
l assumed the president wished
me TO discuss realities and not
platitudes. l have not had expe-
rience as a public speaker and it
was and is a difficult role. but |
have done my best to carry out
the presidents wishes.
The difficulty has already been
increased by the absence of spe-
cific instructions from the state
department and of any adequate
discussion with its officials as to
the policy of this government. l
have been much gratified that no
criticism had come to me from any
official source until I was recalled
TO Washington last week.
PLANS CHANGED BY KNOX
With the previous approval of
the president had arranged to go
TO China by way OF Europe. so
that might have conferences with
well informed and influential per-
sons of widely divergent interests
made many valuable appointments.
1t was then suggested by Mr.
Knox that it would be better for
me to proceed via the Pacific. Con-
trary to my understanding. that
this matter should be fully dis
cussed with the president in con-
ference with Secretary Knox the
secretary informed me that it
would be unnecessary to see the
president, and that / should pro-
ceed by way of Japan. 1t was then
agreed that 1 should sail on Octo-
Der 5, with the minister to Japan.
l was told letters would be given
to me and arrangements made for
seeing important persons in Japan.
l have not since then seen Secre-
tary Knox. except on last Sunday,
nor have 1 had any adequate dis
cussion with the department as to
Some days before the date set
for my departure / came to WASH
ington, and after considerable diff,
ficulty made a number of appoint
ments with the first assistant sec
retary of state, not one of which
did he keep or explain his failure
to keep. No papers. not even my
official credentials, were made for
me. when 1 felt Washington for
San Francisco. with just time to
catch the steamer. / have not ex-
amined the papers from the state
department. which reached me in
San Francisco after the secretary's
telegram recalling me to Wash
ington.
mo EXCUSE" FOR KNOX
AS was hurriedly leaving
Washington a representative of an
important paper asked me about
the China-Japan agreement. and
said the matter was under con-
sideration. as is well known, but
no decision had been reported, and
1 may have said, although / do not
recall il. that obviously no state
ment viii be prepared in the alb
sence of Hoyt. / advised him to
get thoroughly informed upon the
whole subject, as It would be of the
died intelligently by the American
press If official action were taken.
This is the sum Of my offending.
On mature consideration it 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 IL furnished
no sufficient excuse for the sensa-
tfona1 and inconsiderate action OF
the secretary of state.
However. I did not seek this post
and am absolutely unwilling to re-
main in it without the entire con-
fidence of the president and the
cordial suppOrt of the government.