The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-13
CRANE REBELS.
Continued from Page One.

representative contributed to the publica-
ton by him Of a discussion OF this agree
ment and the possibility OF a protest
by this government, and that the depart
ment regarded this conversation az in
discreet
THE publication referred to did not
mention my name, nor in my judgment
would it have been mistake il the De-
partment OF State had not chosen 10
vouch for its accuracy and give TO Il
an Official significance by its own con-
duct
1T certainly contained nothing OF sub
stance that was not matter Of common
knowledge or deduclble by any competent
newspaper reporter from facts commonly
known. The substance. If not the full
text OF the agreement. had been pub
lished and its effect had been widely
discussed. As an Illustration OF this.
the New York Herald had published on
September the following dispatch:
Reports from Tokyo.
Tokyo Wednesday. Tokyo press
regrets that the lingo American press is
raising the usual protest against Japan
regarding the new Chinese-Japanese con-
vention. It states that the Manchurian
railways are administered I'm accordance
with Americas long cherished motto OF
the open-door policy. Moreover, il adds.
the convention Is now an accomplished
fact and America cannot change Il.
however much il may dislike st.
THE publication complained OF by the
State Department was not made until
! TIT
canoe bearing on the reference 10 recent
canards' IN the Secretary's telegram to
me at San Francisco.
In order to understand how this mat
ter came % be mentioned Il Is necessary
20 make a brief explanation When ! ac-
cepted the appointment OF Minister 10
China. at the request OF the President
and afterward. he expressed the earnest
wish that the people OF this country
should be reused 20 a keen interest on
the Pacific situation. both commercially
and politically: he felt that our greatest
problem lay there and that our people
were not fully awake 10 ifs importance.
As ! stated In a public address I'm Chi
cage on September Il. the President adj
vised me TO accept all available invita-
tions 20 public meetings and dinners.
and said:
DO not miss any OF them. and when
YOU go 10 one insist on speaking and
let them have Il red-hot
Took Instructions Literally.
Il assumed that the President wished
me 10 discuss realities and not platitudes
I have not had experience as a public
speaker and It was and IS a difficult role.
but ] have done my best 70 carry out
the Presidents wishes The difficulty
has also been increased by the absence OF
specific instructions from the state De-
partment and any adequate instructions
from its officials as 20 the policy OF this
government have been much gratihed
that no criticism has come to me from
an official source until was recalled to
Washington last week.
with the previous approval OF the
President I had arranged 10 60 10 China
by way Of Europe that I might have
conferences with well-iuformed and IN
iuential persons of widely divergent in
terest and point Of view and had made
/ many valued appointments. 1t was then
! suggested by Mr.. Knox that Il would be
, better for me 10 proceed by way OF the
Pacific
Contrary TO my understanding thai
this matter should be fully discussed with
the President in conference with Secre-
tary Knox. the Secretary informed m,
that II would be unnecessary 10 see IN,
President. and that I should proceed 10y
, way OF Japan. Il was then agreed that
should sail on October ., with the Minis
ter 10 Japan.
Lack of Conferences.
, Il was told that letters would be CiveT
20 me and arrangements made for seeing
important persons in Japan. have not
since then seen Secretary Knox, except
on last Sunday, nor have I had any ade-
{, quate discussion with the department as
, TO It's policy. Some days before the dat,
set for my departure / came TO Washing
ton. and with considerable difficulty mad,
a number OF appointments with the FRS
E Assistant Secretary OF State, not one OF
, which did he keep nor explain his failure
TO keen. No papers. not even my of1cia
credentials. were ready for me when
, left washington for San Francisco. will
lust time 10 catch the steamer. hav,
- not examined the papers from the STATE
p Department, which reached me In SaT
Francisco after the Secretary's telegram
: recalling me 10 Washington.
"As l was hurriedly leaving Washington
8 a representative Of an important pape
asked me about the China-Japan agree
ment and I said that the matter wa
under consideration, as was well known
but no decision had been reached. an,
, / may have said. although I do not recall
: IT, that obviously no statement would b,
, prepared in the absence Of Mr. HOyt
, advised him 10 get thoroughly informe,
upon the whole subject. as il would b,
Of the greatest Importance that IL h,
, handled intelligently by the American
press II official action were taken.
g This IS the sum Of my offending. Or
! mature consideration, il is my 1udgmen
, that my action was in accordance witt
the spirit. at least. Of the President
, wishes expressed by him %. and tina
! It furnishes no suffcie4t excuse for tn,
sensational and inconsiderate action o
p the Secretary Of State. However, I die
: not seek this post, and am absolutely un
willing 10 remain in it without the entir,
, confidence of the President and the cor
! dial support Of the government"
, Mr. Crane also made public the follow
, II ing letter to Secretary Knox:
! Washington, October u.
MY Dear Mr. Knox: Permit me to &C
knowledge the receipt OF your letter o
, this date. Before receiving it had sen
, a telegram to the President. a copy o
which inclose. 1 am awaiting his reply
- Cordially yours, CHARLES r. CRANE"
, Trouble with Wilson.
Mr. Cranes troubles in locating FRS
Assistant Secretary of State Huntington
Wilson. who was acting secretary dur
ing much OF September. are not set fortl
in any detail. He has told his friends II
Washington. however. that on arriving
here he was unable for some time to fine
81 he III. -.