New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-21
Resignation Of Assistant Sec
rotary of State Due to
Presidents Policy Re-
qarding China.
NEW "BREAK" BY BRYAN
Unnecessary Haste and I'm
usual Manner" of Ending
Negotiations with Other
Powers Resented by
Retiring Official.
From The Tribune Bureau ]

Washington. March 2O.-The abrupt
resignation of Huntington Wilson as
Assistant Secretary of state to-day
following the announcement from
the White House yesterday OF
The Chinese policy Of the new admins
ration. has given rise TO the suspicion
that William J. Bryan. - Secretary
of state, has made another diplomats
faux pas more startling 10 the foreign
Offices of the world than in his -.
Patrick's Day address.
Mr.. Wilson. in his letter of resisn1-
lion. which was Immediately accepted
hv The President, made il clear tha'
in his long experience in diplomatic
affairs. he had not become accustomei
TO the announcement through the press
Of radical change of policy on the
part Of the United states affecting ne
gotiations which had been carried on
conformity with several other world
powers. Although President Wilson
makes 10 effort to evade responsibility
for the manner in which the announce
ment was made, 1t is known that Mr.
Bryan was fully aware OF what was
10 be done.
Instead of directing the state De-
partment to inform the foreign Offices
of the six-power group interested IN
the Chinese loan Of the attitude of the
new administration, which, meant the
abandonment of the plan, the Secretary
Of state went off on his speechmaking
trip. leaving Mr.. Wilson. as acting Sec
retary of state, unaware that any an
nouncement was 10 be made. As Mr..
wilson as assistant to Secretary Knox
had played an important part in the
negotiations with the other powers in
terested in the Chinese loan and was
in charge of the department. questions
were naturally put to him, and, as he
had been left in the dark by Mr.. Bryan
Al whose request ne had consented TO
serve for several weeks longer, the for
eign offices were obliged TO depend on
the press for information concerning
the decisive turn of affairs in cOnnec-
ton with the loan negotiations.
II had no reason to suppose, sad
MIR. Wilson,. in his letter to the PresI-
dent. that the fate of the negotiations
which had so long had the studous at
tention of the foreign Offices OF the SIX
great powers would be abruptly oeter-
mined with such quite unnecessary
haste and in so unusual manner
These methods. against which ! re-
specttully protest, are the very eH,
trsordinary circumsta noes which ! feel
vitiate my understanding with Mr..
BRYAN and completely relieves me OF
any further obligation in the premises.
BRYAN to Continue Vacation
The absence Of Mr.. Bryan without
specific instructions from him as TO
the conduct of affairs has left the
State Department in a more or less
unsatisfactory condition, and Mr.. Will
sons resignation will probably add
somewhat to the uncertainty OF con-
ditions. None the less. il is not eX-
pected that the Secretary of State Will
cut short his birthday trip to take his
MACE at the helm. II is understood
that the President does not expect him
10 return.
At present there is no successor 10
Mr. Wilson in sight. 1t is expected
that the incident will hurry the nomi-
nation of Professor John Bassett
Moore. who will probably take charge
Of affairs. which are now in the hands
of Assistant Secretary Adee.
In his letter to President Wilson, the
former Acting Secretary of state set
forth that when he consented L. con-
tinue for a time with the new admins
tration he did not understand there
were TO be any radical changes Of
policy for which he would be called
on TO act as spokesman. Inc letter
continued in part:
II to-day becomes the duty of the act
ing Secretary of State, in dispatchmS IN
structions 10 the representatives or TINS
government abroad and as the channei
Of communication with the represents
tives of foreign governments at Wash
ington. TO be the spokesman OF the PIesl .
dent in regard TO a new Far Eastern pol
lev which is apparently deduclDle from
vour statement issued TO tine press last
night. Inasmuch as | find myself entire
lv out of harmony with this radical
change of policy az / understand 1t, !
trust that You Will sympathlze with the
view that IL was not appropriate that |
should longer retain the Responsiveness
OF the office which ! have now rehn-
Quished. 80
/ had no reason to suppose that the OIL
cfals on duty in the Department OF state
would learn first from the newspapers or
A declaration of policy which l THINK
shows on its face the inadequacy Of the
consideration given 10 the iacts ana tneo-
ries involved and the failure clearly TO
apprehend the motives leading 10 and
the purpose of the policy superseded.
Motive to Protect China.
The repeated utterances OF the last ad-
ministration must have made II perfectly
clear that the motive and purpose OF the
primarily the protection of China = in
tegrity and sovereignty, the uplift OF the
Chinese people morally. materially and
governmentally, the development OF Chi
mas resources. and the maintenance OF
our traditional policy OF the open door -
OF equality Of opportunity for American
enterprise. Precisely because of tho Ill
innate possibility OF a measure OF for
.ign control Of China's finances, which
NAV be inferred from a study Of other
countries which have found themselves
in a similar situation. il was deemed i'm
peratiye that there should be American
participation In the rehabilitation OF
China's finances. In order 10 make sure
OF the presence Of the potent, friendly
and iisinterested influence Of the United
States. The only practicable method Of
such participation was by the use OF re-
liable American bankers.
In the consideration OF the Far Eastern
policy / have felt that so much should
De promised and that the problem OF the
Governments using American bankers
nh OF