The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-13
CRANE MAKES HOT REPLY
 ID ALL THE CHARGES
Matter Comes to Sudden Conclusion Through the Department of State and Crane Holds President
 Taft Responsible.

Washington, October 12.-Charles hN' Crane of Chicago, minister designate to China, today was practically deposed oy a demand from Secretary Knox for his resignation.
 Tbus A new chapter in American diplomacy was written. A clt1zen chosen with special regard for his qual- ifcations for the post was recalled pe- fore he had embarked from San fran- cisco and discharged from his hlgh or fee because of alleged indiscreet dls- closures through the press Moreover this minister. breaking through all the old traditions insisted on defendlng himself from the aspersions cast upon him by the Secretary of State py the issuance of a statement which most . people here comment upon as certalh to be very embarrassing to the admin istration.
 The history of this extraordinary ar fair which began about week aso with the announcement that Munster Crane had been stopped at san fIan cisco at the moment of emoarKatloh for his post. by demand from Secre- tary Knox for his return to Washins ion reached at least its first crisis soon after noon today when the Secretary in q formal statement announced ehal MT Cranes resignation had been ih- vited and the minister designate fe- piled in an equally formal statement that while his resignation alreauy ilau been rendered to the President, ne lel' himself very unjustly treated. More- over MT. Crane, in his statement, re- fected very severely upon the othclals of the state department charging that moi only had they refrained from slv- inc him the instructions usually Issued to 4 minister or ambassador aoout to leave for his post but that he had beon denied access to them even efter ne had made repeated appointments Wiu them
 He enters a sweeping denial of the charge that he gave out a newspaper story which is said to be the cause oi his deposition, and places squarely unon the shoulders of President Taft the responsibility for the various ut terances he has made regarding condi- tions in the far east which nave aroused the ire of Secretary Knox and for final action upon his resignation.
 Knox's Statement.
 In announcing his action, MT. Knox gave out the following statement, adding that he would have nothing to add to 1t: 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 Manchuria from such data bearing upon the situation as 1t was able to secure with a view of de- fermining whether there is anything in the agreements adversely affecting American interests or in the conflict of people Of equal opportunities to which the powers are pledged. a study not yet concluded, and in respect to which no decision has been reached.
 while this investigation was proceed ing, MT. Crane, the minister to China, came to the department and while there was informed by one of the clerks that such an expression was being made.
 ..Without consultation with the acting secretary or any other responsible officer of the department, and without the knowledge authority of any one con- nected with the department, MT. Crane gave out newspaper story to the effect that this government was preparing to protest against some of the features of the agreement and that promulgation of the protest only awaited the return of an official who was to formulate it.
 Story in Papers.
 ..The story appeared in a western paper and at the same time, or a day later. in the Japanese papers and generally was published Such were the representations made to me October 1 by the responsible officers of the department of state, ac- companed by their statement that they had sufficient reasons to believe them to be true. Whereupon sent Mir Crane at San Francisco the following telegram, dated October B. 1909:
 ".You have been charged with the re- sponsibility for the canards recently ap- bearing in the Japanese and American press to the effect that the United States is preparing to protest against the the Chinese-Japanese agreement The evil dence that you are responsible for this is of such character to warrant 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 it ad- visable for mo to communicate with you personally. and in the utmost confidence the relation thereto"
 At conference with Mir. Crane Sunday evening he admitted having had an in- discreet talk with a reporter which re- suited in the publication referred to and assuming responsibility, stated that if the indscretion was great enough to shake my confidence in his usefulness he would willingly resign. I have reluctantly reached the conclusion that the good of the service demands that I should inform MT. Crane that his resignation would be accepted and have done so."
 Crane's Statement. ~ MT. Cranes statement is as follows:
 "The statement issued by the depart ment of state is slightly inaccurate in saying that the secretary has informed me that my resignation will be accepted The letter which I received from MT. Knox at noon today says that he has recommended to the President that the President accept my resignation. Be fore this letter had been received by me I had already sent to the President through his secretary MT. Carpenter the following telegram
 Washington, October 12
 President William H. Haft: The state department objects to certain things I have done in the effort to carry out my
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