Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-07
Minister to Greece and
Montenegro Sends Res
ignation to Bryan.
UNABLE TO KEEP STILL
Asks to Be Freed of Official Re-
lati0nS so as Not to En-
barasS President.

Washington, D. c., July 7.-Secre-
tary of State Bryan late yesterday an
nounced that the resignation of George
Fred Williams, as minister to Greece
and Montenegro, had been received
at the state department and had been
transmitted to President wilson.
Secretary Bryan issued the follow
ing statement without comment.
Mr.. Williams requests Secretary
Bryan to tender to 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 he has of what is being
DONE
Wouldn't Embarrass President.
''He says he considers the success
of the president more important to the
world than all the efforts of other
men and does not wish to ,embarrass
him and he wishes to thank him for
the consideration which has been
shown him."
President Wilson is expected to ac-
cept the resignation tomorrow and
close the brief and extraordinary ca
reer of Mr.. Williams as diplomat.
Aroused over -pEess.diSPatches con-
tinually quoting the minister as bit
terly criticising conditions in the new
kingdom of Albania and arraigning
the responsible European powers, the
president caused his resignation to be
asked for by cable last Friday night.
1t is understood, however, that Mr..
Williams, foreseeing the inevitable, al
ready had the resignation on the way
to washington.
This case is said to be without prec-
edent in the history of the state de-
partment. other ministers have got
ten in trouble through too free crftr-
cisms of the conditions existing in the
countries to which they were accred-
tied. but is not recalled that an Amer
lean diplomatic representative ever be-
fore has gone outside of his post to
discuss the affairs of another country
Regarded as til-AoViSeos
In the present. instance the comment
was regarded by the state department
as peculiarly untimely and ill-advised,
because of the extreme Jealousy with
which the European powers nave
guarded the tangled Balkan problems
from the injection of new elements. IL
is considered by them as one to be
dealt with by the European powers
alone, their position being precisely
that of the United States government
in regard to the Monroe doctrine
1t is now known that early in his
mission Mr.. Williams sought to have
his powers extended to include Al
bania. The state department, however,
with its usual caution. when dealing
with questions involving tSe Balkans
hesitated to lead the way in es.e hlish-
ing a diplomatic circle at DurazaesS'
view of the slight American interests :
there. 1t did, however. consent to Mr.
williams earnest request, to be al
lowed to make a personal invesrga-
ton of the Albanian situation and
there followed the statements contain
ed in his contributions to the Athens
which have led to his res
gnation.
Mr.. Williams, who was a member OF
congress years ago, Is a lawyer and
was appointed to the diplomatic ser
vice from Massachusetts. He is close
friend of Secretary Bryan.