The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-14
CRANE AWAITING
REPLY FROM TAFT
Acceptance of Resignation
Believed Inevitable.
JAPAN'S SUSPICION EXCITED
Friends of Minister Doing All the
Talking, Ginning KnOL Approved
Crane'A Speechy that He Was Ill
treated by Department., and that He
Has Presidents Full Confidence.

Nominally. at least. Charles z. Crane,
Of Chicago is still the American Minister
to China Up to a late hour last evening
Mr.. Crane had not been notified OF the
acceptance Of his resignation, which Mr.
Crane placed at President Tafts disposal
a short time before receiving a note from
Secretary Knox asking that the resigna-
ton be rendered. No explanation is at
hand as to why President Taft has not
answered Mr. Cranes telegram or Mr..
Knox has not notified Mr.. Crane that the
resignation has been accepted However.
it is regarded as a fOregone conclusion
that President Taft will sustain his Sec
retary of State.
AS for Mr.. Knox. he left Washington
yesterday for Valley Forge, Pa. where
ne has a country home Il was the talk
about the State Department that Mr..
Knox had received a cipher telegram from
President Taft
Some things became known yesterday
through friends OF Mr. Crane which fur
nish cause for speculation in connection
with the Crane incident Mr.. Crane de-
clined to talk for publication. acting on
his own initiative and with the advice of
Walter Fisher. a Chicago lawyer. who is
here with him. Mr. Crane intends to re-
main in Washington until he hears from
President Taft.
KnOx's Approval Claimed.
One Of the things Mr.. Cranes friends
told was that Mr.. Knox had commended.
instead OF condemned, Mr.. Cranes re-
marks at the dinner of the American
Asiatic Society In New York. in which
Mr.. Crane spoke OF the present hold-up
policy of this government in its dealings
with China
But 70 continue the story. It was in
the course Of a conversation over the
Knox and Mr.. Crane that the Secretary
of State spoke in commendation of Mr..
Cranes remarks. Mr.. Knox was at Val
| ley Forge and Mr.. Crane had called him
UP on the telephone from New York. Just
prior to leaving there for Chicago. Mr.
i Crane. it was explained, wanted to say
/ good-by and ascertain II Mr.. Knox had
any parting instructions. AS the con-
! versation was ending Mr.. Knox. accord
/ ing TO the story told, said something Ike
| this, by the way, Mr.. Crane, I want to
| congratulate you on your New York
speech"
Mr.. Crane was gratifed, so he informed
! his friends. who said that Mr.. Crane was
surprised when Mr.. Knox in their inter-
view on last Sunday night referred to
the speeches Of B1r. Crane as indiscreet.
Difficulty with Department.
Mr.. Cranes friends said that Mr.. Crane
had great difficulty in seeing State De-
partment officials. 1t was asserted that
while Mr.. Crane had seen Mr. Knox
three times and talked with him once
over the telephone. no real opportunity
had been afforded for extended infcrma-
ton. Mr.. Crane met Mr.. knox in WASH
ington Immediately after President Taft
had ktold Mr.. Crane that he would an
point him to the Chinese mission. ana
on the following day they attended a
I luncheon at which several others were
present The Beverly meeting canae AZ
/ terward.
When Mr.. Crane arrived In Washing
ton on Sunday afternoon, he said he
fore he saw Mr.. Knox, that he did nor
know why he was summoned here from
San Francisco. The telegram recalling
Mr.. Crane. made public yesterday. said.
"You have been charged with the re-
sponsibility for the canards appearing IN
the Japanese and American press tn the