Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-13
By Sec. Knox, Who Alleges Undi p|o.
matte UtteranCeS---Mr. Crane AL
|egeS Unfair Treatment by
The State Department,

| He enters a sweeping denial of the
charge that he gave OUT a news
paper story which is said to be the
cause of his deposition and places
| squarely upon the shoulders of Presi-
dent Taft the responsibility for the
various uttcranccs he has made re-
garding conditions in the Far East,
which have aroused the ire of Secrc-
tary Knox and for final action upon
his resignation.
Mr. Cranes statement is as follows:
| The statement issued by the depart
ment of state is slightly inaccurate III
saying that the secretary has informed
me that my resignation viii De accept
ed. The letter which | received from
Mr.. Knox at neon today says that he
| has recommended to the President
that the President accept my reSigna-
ton Before this letter had been re-
ceivcd by me / had already sent to
the President, through his secretary
Mr. Carpenter the following telegram
THE state department objects to
certain things | nave done in the eff
fort to carry out my understanding of
| y"ul wishes as expressed by you to
| me. | have carefully considered the
entlr" matter. In my judgment no mis-
| take has been made except as the do
| partlneEt has made it mistake How
ever, ! did not and cannot guarantee
to make no mistake. especially unless
| | have the cordial support and coop
Grafton of the government. The man
n"r In which the department has pro-
coed"d and is proceeding is inconsis-
tent with my own self-respect and my
conco ption of the dignity of the posi-
ton and with the understanding upon
which | accepted it. | appreciate the
personal consideration have re-
cclvcn from you and under all the cir
instances have decided to await in
formation as to your wishes before
taking action. You will underst and of
course that my resignation is in your
i hands.
CHARLES r. CRANE"
Inc statement of the department is
further inaccurate in saying that |
gave out newspaper story about the
| preparation of a protest in regard to
an agreement between China and Jap
an. II would have been more accurate
II the statement had said. as was in
dlcat"d IN 1t own closing paragraph,
| that brief conversation of mine with
| a newspaper representative contribu-
tea to the publication by him of a
discussion of this agreement and the
possibility of protest by this gov
lefhii"nt and that the department re
Pard"d TINS conversation as "indis-
Greet. The publication referred to did
nor mention any name, nor in my
! judgment would II have been a mistake.
II the department of state had not
CHOSEN to Nouch for it's accuracy and
CIV" to il an official significance bv it's
own conduct
1t certainly contained nothing of
substance that was not matter Of com
mon knowledge or dcducihlc Inv any
competent newspaper reporter from
iacts that are common. From the sub
stance of the note the full text of the
aSIeeineht had been published ana its
effect had been widely discussed. AS an
Illustration of this the New York Her
aid rad published Sept. the following
dispatch:
| TOXIC Wednesday,:
| Inc TOXIC press regrets that the
lingo American press is raising the
usual protest against Japan regarding
| the new China Japanese convention.
1t states that the Manchurian rail
ways are administered in accordance
with Americas long cherished motto
of the open door policy. Moreover. it
| adds, the convention is now an ac-
complishcd fact and America cannot
change it. however much it NAV dislike
it,"
The publication complained of by the
state department was not made until
Sept 81 This also has q, significant
bearing on the reference to recent
canards" in the secretary's telegram
/. to rue at San Francisco.
In order to understand how this mat
ter came to be mentioned it is nee
essary to make brief explanation
| When | accepted the appointment o
minister to China. at the request o
the President and afterward he eX-
pressed the earnest wish that the PEG
pie OF this country should be rouset
to a keen interest in the Pacific sit
uation, both commercially and politi-
cally: he felt that our greatest prob
lem lay there and that our people were
not fully awake to its Importance. AS
I stated in public address in Chicago
Sept. IA the President advised me t
accept all available invitations to pub
lie meetings and dinners and said:
edo not miss any Of them and wher
YOU go to ore insist on speaking ant
let them have it red hot"
Continued on Page Two)