The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-14
SECRETARY KNOX SAYS
 INCIDENT IS CLOSED
Crane Is Still in Washington But No Answer to His Message to Taft Has Been Received by the
 State Department.


 President Taft do with the resignation Of Charles R. Crane as minister of the United States to China?'
 In one form or another this question was on the lips of all Washington this morning. It Is a long time since a diplomatic episode has excited the na- tional capital more than this one.
 Mir Cranes stinging reply last night to the statement in which Secretary of State Knox yesterday afternoon an nounced that he had informed the min- ister designate that his resignation would be accepted, including the reply did, MT Crane's exceedingly lucid tel egram of virtual resignation to the Pres ident, was read and re-read with the keenest zest.
 Little doubt was expressed that the resignation of MT. Crane would be ae- cepted by the President It was asserted without qualification by those in the con fidence of the Secretary of State that Mir Knox was perfectly assured of the ap. proval of the President; that le was not the kind of man to take so drastic a step without knowing in advance that he would be supported in it.
 Friends Indignant.
 Even the friends of MT. Crane and several very astute friends nave stood beside him in this crisis-while highly in dgnant at the treatment which he had met at the hands of MT Knox, admitted that the developments since he left San Francisco at the peremptory summons of the secretary, he had, regardless of the merits of the case. utterly destroyed any possible usefulness on his part at PelSin, and that in the circumstances he could not with self-respect do otherwise than insist on the acceptance of his resigna- tion. Further, it was pointed out on both sides of the controversy that as cne man put it, the state depa rtment, big and broad as 1t is, isn't big enough now for both Knox and Crane. The Presi- dent cannot sustain either without turn ing down the other
 Mir Knox could not now be reversed without it's being interpreted throughout the world as an insufferable rebuff.
 Therefore. the press dispatches last night from the newspaper correspondents travelling with President Taft, to the effect that if the resignation must come
 
 entire matter was handled, were inter- preted here this morning indicating unmistakably only that the President had no intention of interfering with the action of the Secretary of State but that he intended the secretary to bear all the responsibility for that action.
 Cranes Telegram.
 At the same time it was borne in mind that MT. 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 President in person. One of the possible indirect results of the whole incident was discussed with much interest in some diplomatic quarters last night and today, and that it is the unmistakable notice that Japan has incl dentally received even in the words of MT. Knoxs statement of yesterday to the effect that this government looks with disapproyal of her gains in Manchuria | through the two new treaties with China which have been so much discussed in connection with the Crane affair. Ac- cordng to this view MT. Crane, inten- tionally or unintentionally, has been made the pawn in the game of expediency.
 The simple statement that the Crane incident Is closed was the only response made today at the white house and the state department to the inquiry as to whether President Taft had accepted MT. Cranes resignation. It was stated that nothing had been heard from the Presi- dent today.
 Judge McLean's Views.
 One of the court decisions upon which the state department is said to rely as sustaining the view that MT. Cranes con- nection with the diplomatic service of the United States is at an end and that the Presidents acceptance of the resigna- ton is not necessary to it's taking effect, is the following, by Judge Mclean for merly judge of the United States circuit court in Ohio, who in an opinion in the case Of the United States vs. Wright, said:
 There can be no doubt that civil officer has right to resign his office at pleasure and it Is not in the power of the executive to compel him to remain in of flee. It is only necessary that the resg- nation should be received, to take effect, and this does not depend upon the accept ance or rejection of the resignation by the President
 The correctness of this view, 1t Is ~. claimed, has never been successfully as- sailed before any superior court The conclusion of the state department off cials is that MT. Cranes connection with it terminated with the receipt of his resig- ration by the President
 Up to midnight no response had been received by Charles R. Crane from Pres ident Taft to the dispatch he sent the lat ter yesterday morning rendering his resig- nation as United States minister designate to China. MT. Crane did not appear to think 1t strange that he had no word from the President expressing the belief that MT. Taft probably had been too much on the go'' to give consideration to the matter.
 Asked if he expected to stay here for . time MT. Crane said he was uncer- tain as to his movements. There are other places besides Washington said MT. Crane. where fellow can have good time"
 II.