Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-10-22
CRANE GIVEN HIS
WALKING PAPERS
MINISTER DESIGNATE TO CHINA
PRACTICALLY DEPoSED BY
SECRETARY KNOX.
SECRETARY OF STATES NOTE
Gives His Reasons FOR Demanding the
Resignation of MIR. Crane-The
Latter Says He Feels Him
self Unjustly Treated.

Washington, d. c. - Charles r.
Crane of Chicago, minister designate
to China, on October 12 was practical
ly deposed by demand from Secre-
tary Knox for his resignation. Thus
new chapter in American diplomacy
was written. A citizen chosen with
special regard for his qualifications
for the post was recalled before he
had embarked from San Francisco
and discharged from his high Office
because of alleged indiscrete dis
closures through the press. Moreover,
this minister insisted on defending
himself from the aspersions cast upon
him by the secretary of state by the
issuance of statement.
He enters sweeping denial of the
charge that he "gave out" a newspaper
story which is said to be the cause
of his deposition, and places squarely
upon the shoulders of President Taft
the responsibility for the various ut
terances he has made regarding condi-
tions in the far east.
In announcing his action, Mr.. Knox
gave out the following statement:
The department of state has been en-
gagged for some time in making the usual
study of the recent agreements between
China and Japan in relation to Manchu
ria from such data bearing upon the sit
uation as IL was able to secure with n
view of determining whether there is any
thing in the agreements adversely affect
Ing American interests or in conflict with
the principle of equal opportunity to
which the powers are pledged; study
not yet concluded and in respect to which
no decision has been reached. While this
investigation was proceeding Mr.. Crane,
the minister to China, came to the de-
partment and while there was informed
by one of the clerks that such an exam
ination was being made.
Without consultation with the acting
secretary or any other responsible officer
of the department and without the knowl
edge or authority of any one connected
with the department Mr.. Crane gave out
n newspaper story to the effect that this
government was preparing to protest
against some features of the agreements
and that the promulga tion of the protest
only awaited the return of an official who
was to formulate 1t. The story appeared
in western paper and at the same time
or a Gay later in the Japanese press and
subsequently was generally published
Such We're the representations made to
me October l by the responsible officers
of the department of state accompanied
by their statement that they had suffi-
cient reason to believe them to be true.
Whereupon I sent Mr.. Crane at San Fran
cisco the following telegram dated Octo-
Der 3, 1909:
You have been charged with the re-
sponsibility for the canards recently ap-
pearing in the Japanese and American
press to the effect that the United Statec
is preparing to protest against the
Chinese Japanese agreement. The evil
dence that you are responsible for this is
of such character as warrants me in di-
recting you to come to Washington at
once and meet it. If you are not respon-
sible, as | hope you are not, matters re-
lating to Oriental affairs have developed
since you left Washington to make 1t ad-
visablc for me to communicate with you
personally and in the utmost confidence
in relation thereto
At conference with Mr.. Crane Sunday
evening he admitted having an indiscreet
talk with reporter which resulted in the
publications referred to and, assuming re-
sponsibility. stated that II the indiscre-
tion was grave enough to shake my conf
dence in his usefulness he would willingly
resign. ! have reluctantly reached the
conclusion that the good of the service de-
mands that l should inform Mr.. Crane
that his resignation will be accepted. and
] have done so.