The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-13
1T is UP TO TAFT.
President Must Pass on Resig-
nation of Crane.
1t Was Sent to Him and Not to
Knox.
HE WILL ACCEPT 1T.
Is the Opinion of the Knowing
Ones in Washington.
The Department Not BigEneugh
for Both Men.


United States to Gilman
In one form or another this question
was on the lips of all official Washing
ton this morning. 1t is a long time
since a diplomatic episode has excited
the national capital more than this one.
Mr. Cranes singing reply last night
to the statement in which Secretary OF
state Knox yesterday announced that
The had informed the minister desig-
mate that his resignation would be ac-
Icepted including. as the reply did, MT.
Cranes lucid telegram of virtural res
ignation to the president was read and
reread with the keenest zest-
Little doubt was expressed that the
RESIGNATION of Mr.. Crane would be &C
cepted by the president. 1t was as
serted without qualification by those
| iH the confidence of the secretary o.
Estate. that Mr.. Knox was perfectly as
sured of the approval of the president,
| that he was not the kind of man 10
| take so drastic step without knowing
| in advance that he would be supported
| in it.
Even the friends of Mr., Crane-and
several very astute friends, nave stooo
by him in this crisis-while hlgnly IN
oignant at the treatment with Whlch
he has met at the hands of Mr. Knox,
admitted that the developments since
he left San Francisco at the perenpto-
nv summons of the secretary mad re-
terly destroyed any possible usefulness
on his part at Pekin, and that he couIo
not now with self-respect DO otnerWise
than insist upon the acceptance OF ms
resignation. Further than that 1t was
pointed out on both sides of the con-
troversy that, as one man put 1T, the
state department, big, and broad as II
| is, is not big enough now for both
not sustain either without turning down
the other.
Taft Will Keep Out.
Therefore the press dispatches re-
ceived from the newspaper cores
pondents travelling with President
Crane must come from the state de-
partment, where the entire matter
has been handled" were interpreted
here as indicating not only that the
president had no intention of interior
ing with the action of the secretary of
state; but also that he intended the
secretary to bear all of the response
bility for that action. At the same
time it was borne in mind that MI
Cranes telegram of resignation was
addressed to the president in person |
as their relations, officially required. |
and that it would have to be acted
upon in the same way by the presl-
dent in person. One of the possible |
direct results of the whole incident |
was discussed with much interest in |
some diplomatic quarters last night |
and today, and that is the unmistak- |
able notice that Japan has Incidental |
" received, even in the words of Mr.. |
Knox's statement of yesterday. that |
this government looks with diSappro-
val upon her gains in Manchuria |
through the two new treaties with |
China which have been SO much dis |
cussed in connection with the Crane |
affair.
According to this view. Mr.. Crane, |
Intentionally or Fundamentally. has |
do he in 70 Pa m 7if Of |
expediency. A man who has stuffed |
international politics for many years, |
but who would not be quoted by /
name, described it in this way:
Japan Knows Now.
"It was very necessary that Japan
should be advised of the intention of |
this government to protect to the ut
most the intere>ps of American trade
in the Manchuria. yet in such a way
as to avoid placing the state depart
would be awkward to retreat in
events of odds being found too great
I'm the ordinary course, the great
powers interested in maintaining the
open door in Manchuria could have
been approached by Secretary Knox
with the purpose of gaining their sup
port In a joint representation to Japan
and China, that the two treaties re-
Gently negotiated between those coun-
tries comforting upon Japan a practical
monopoly of the exploitation of rail-
roads and mineral resources of Man
obnoxious to these
powers. :
Possibly the state department had
so far progressed in king soundings
rs to lead 1t to doubt whether the sup Y
port of majority, Of the great pow
Knoxs statement issued yesterday S
shows that the soundings are still in
progress, but certainly does not indi- q
,ate that success has been attained.
d"Tho dfSP1nqI1rnS he 1f h
which, as Mr.. Crane in his statement e
points out, the department of state, r
ails to deny. have served this purpose :,
-erv we'll and the fact that the depart =
crane for those disclosures might well | p
erve as notice to the Japanese govern f
nent of its serious objections to the II
lew treaties
Cranes Statement. Ii
Mr.. Cranes statement in part Is as
ollows:
1.-THE statement issued by the de- 4
of state is slightly inaccurate r
n saying that the secretary has in N
ormed me that my resignation will
lie accepted. The letter 1 received lo
rom Mr.. Knox says that he has rec a
mmended to the president that the E,
resident accept my resignation. Be =
ore this letter had been received by
he I had already sent to the president
he following telegram:
Washington. D. c., Oct IL, 1903
President William H. Taft: F
q The state department objects TO
ertain things 1 have done in the eff
ort to carry out my understanding E
( your wishes expressed by you to r
ne. I have carefully considered the q
ntire matter In my Judgment no v
1istake has been made except as the
apartment has made 1t a mistake. | G
However, did not and can not guar =
ntee to make no mistakes. and es- Il
ecially unless have the cordial sup
ort and cooperation of the govern