Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-10-20
PRESENTS HIS SIDE OF CUES
TioN-HAs BEEN uN-
FAIRLY TREATED.
ACTED UPON UNDERSTANDING
OF WISHES OF. PREsI-
DENT TAFT.
OFFICIALS AT WASHINGTON
FAILED TO KEEP FAITH
WITH HIM.

Washington, Oct. 13.-Charles r.
Crane of Chicago, minister designated
to China, yesterday was practically
deposed by demand from Secretary
Knox for his resignation.
Thus a new chapter of American
diplomacy is written. A minister,
chosen with special regard for his
qualifications, is recalled before he
embarked, and discharged because of
alleged indiscreet disclosures through
the press. Moreover, this minister,
breaking through all tradition, de-
tends himself by the issuance of a
statement which is commented upon
as certain to be very embarrassing to
the administration.
The extraordinary incident began
a week ago with the announcement
that Mr.. Crane was stopped at San
Francisco and ordered by Secretary
Knox to return to Washington. Yes
teday, Mr.. Knox announced that Mr..
Cranes resignation had been invited,
and the minister replied by stating
that while his resignation already had
been rendered to the president, he
felt himselv very unjustly treated.
Mr.. Crane denies giving out the news
paper story said to he the cause of
his deposition, and places upon Pres
ident Taft the responsibility of Mr..
Cranes utterances regarding oriental
conditions, which have aroused the
ire of Mr. Knox, and for final action
upon his resignation.
Mr.. Cranes Statement.
The public statement given out Ev
Mr.. Crane says:
"The statement issued by the de-
partment of state is slightly inaccur-
ate in saying that the secretary in
formed me that my resignation would
be accepted.
"The letter l received from Mr.
Knox yesterday says that he recon-
mended to the president that the
president accept my resignation. Be-
fore this letter was received, 1 had
already sent the president the follow
ing telegram:
The state department objects to
certain things have done in an eff
fort to carry out my understanding
OF your wishes as expressed by you.
In my Judgment no mistake has been
made, except as the department has
made a mistake However, l did not and
cannot guarantee to make no mis-
takes, and especially unless have the
mr. <>f
tie government. The manner in
which the department proceeded is
inconsistent with my own self respect
and my conception of the dignity of
the position and with the understand
ing upon which l accepted it. 1 ap-
preciate the personal consideration l
receive from you, and under all the cir
cumstances, have decided to await
information as to your wishes before
taking action. You will understand,
of course, that my resignation is in
your hands.
(Signed) R. Crane
The statement of the department
is further inaccurate in saying that
gave out newspaper story, about the
preparations of a protest in regard
to the agreement between China and
Japan. 1t would have been more &C
curate if the statement had said, as
indicated in its closing paragraph,
that the brief conversation of NINE
with newspaper representative con.
tributed to the publication by him OF
discussion of this agreement, and
the possibility of protest by the
government, and that the department
regarded tbs conversation as 'indis-
Greet The publication in my jndg-
ment would not have been mistake
ii the department had not chosen to
vouch for its accuracy and give it OF
fetal significance.
1T certainly contained nothing OF
substance that was not matter OF
common knowledge or deduc.bl from
facts commonly known. The agree
ment had been published and its Ell
feet widely discussed.
when l accepted the appointment
the president expressed an earnest
wish that the people be reused to a
keen interest in the pacific situation,
as he felt our greatest problem lay
there and that our people were not
fully awake to its Importance. The
president advised me to accept az
available invitations to public meet
ings ard dinners, and said 'Don't
mss any of them and insist on speak,
ing and let them have it red hot
Il assumed that the president
wished me to discuss the realities, not
platitudes. l have not had experience
as a public speaker. but have done
nv best to carry out the presidents
wishes.
"The difficulty is increased by the
absence of specific instructions from
the state department and of any ade
auate discussion with its officials as
to the policy of this government.
with the approval of the president
/ had arranged to go to emma VIZ