Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-09
,ryan Announces Retirement
from Athens OF George
Fred Williams.
At PRESIDENTS REQUEST
But Envoy Anticipated His Wish
Case without Precedent
in State Departments
History.

Washington. July 6.-Formal an
nouncement Of tho resi- gnation of
George Fred Williams as minister to
Greece and Montenegro was made late
to-day at the state department.
Secretary Bryan issued this state
ment without comment
Nh Williams requests secretary
Bryan to tender 10 the President his
resignation as minister to Greece and
Montenegro. He SAYS the reason for
his resignation is that he cannot COM
ment upon the situation in Albania as
he would like under the restraint i'm
posed by his diplomatic position. and
that he does not feel that he can con-
scientiously keep silent with the
knowledge which he has Of what is
being done.
He says that he considers the success
of the President more important to the
world that all of the efforts of other men
and does not wish to embarrass him and
wishes to thank him for the considera-
ton which has been shown him.
PRESIDENT WAS AROUSED.
President Wilson is expected to accept
the resignation tomorrow and close the
Williams as a diplomat. Aroused over
press dispatches continually quoting the
minister as bitterly crticising conditions
in the new kingdom of Albania and ar
:algning the responsible European pow
crs. thu President caused his resignation
to be asked for ny cable last Friday
night It is understood, however, that
Mir Williams, foreseeins the inevitable,
already had the resignation on the way
to Washington.
This case is said to be without prece-
dent in the history of the state depart
ment Other ministers have gotten into
trouble through too free criticisms of the
conditions existing in the countries Il
which they were accredited, but It is not
recalled that an American diplomatic
representative ever before has gone out
side of his post to discuss the affairs OF
another country.
TALK WAS ILI-ADVISED
In the present instance the comment
was regarded by the state department
as peculiarly untimely and ill-advised be
cause of the extreme jealousy with whicr
the European powers have guarded tn,
tangled Balkan problem from the iniec
ton of new elements. 1t is considered by
them as one to he dealt with by tn,
European powers along, their position be
Ing precisely that Of the United States
government I'm regard to the Monroe doc
trine.
II was recalled tonight that even il
the most desperate phase Of the lat
Balkan war, when the allies We're closin
In on Constantinopo and many of til
diplomatic representatives in that capita
were calling upon their governments 70
help, the six powers parties to the Berl
conference, interposed an effective obiec
ton to the appearance of American war
ships in the Dardaneles
MADE PERSONAL INQUIRY.
Secretary Meyer had rushed two armor
ed cruisers across the Atlantic and tn
length of the Mediterrean to succor tn
American contingent in the Turks
capital and on the shores of the Bos
ohorus, But these ships never got with
he Golden Horn. for as soon as the
feared the Dardanelles they were divert
I'd to the coast of Asia Minor at the re
7uest of several of the European power!
while Great Britain took upon he
shoulders the protection Of all the Amer
Nans, native and naturalized, in tina
quarter Of the world.
1t is now known that early in hi
mission MI Williams sought to hav
his powers extended to include Alban
la The state department, howeve
with its usual caution when dcalin
with questions involving the Balkans
hesitated to lead the way in cstal
fishing a diplomatic circle at Durazz
In view of the slight American inteI
ests there. 1t did. however. conser
to Mr. Williams's earnest request
be allowed to make a personal inves
tgation of the Albanian situation an
there followed the statements COR
tanned In his contributions to tt
Athens newspapers, which have led
his resignation.
Mr.. Williams, who was a memb,
of Congress years ago, is a lawy'
and was appointed to the diplomat
service from Massachusetts. He is
close friend op Secretary Bryan.