Goldsboro weekly argus., 1914-07-09
MINISTER TO GREECE
WILLIAMS RESIGNS
Secretary Bryan Issues Form
al Statement
WILLIAMS BOUND TO TALK
Minister williams Comment Regarded
by the State Department as Pc
culiarly Untimely and Ill
Advised at This Time.

Washington, July 6.-Formal an
George Fred Williams as minister to
Greece and Montenegro was made late
today at the state department.
Secretary Bryan issued this state
ment 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 which he has of what is
being done.
"He says that he considers the sue
cess of the President more important
to the world than all of the efforts of
other men, and does not wish to en-
barrass him and wishes to thank him
for the consideration which has shown
him.
President Wilson is expected to ac-
cept the resignation tomorrow and
close the brief and extraordinary ca
reer of Mr.. Williams as a diplomat
Aroused over press dispatches con-
tinually quoting the minister as bit
ter1y criticising conditions in the king
dom of Albania and arranging the
powers, the President caused his res
ignation to be asked for by cable last
Friday night. It is understood, how
ever, that Mr.. Williams already has
the resignation on the way to Wash
ington.
The case is said to be without prec-
edent in the history of the state de-
partment. 1t is not recalled that an
American diplomat has gone outside
another country.
In the present instance the comment
was regarded by the state department
as peculiarly untimely and i'll advised
because of the extreme jealousy with
which the European powers have
guarded the Balkan problem. 1t is
considered by them as to be dealt
with by the European powers alone
the question being precisely that of the
United States government in regard to
the Monroe doctrine.
It was recalled tonight that even in
the most desperate phases of the late
Balkan war, when the allies were call
ing on Constantinople and many Of
the diplomatic representatives in thai
capital were calling upon their gov.
ernments for help, the six powers in
terposed an effective objection to the
appearance of American warships il
the Dardaynelles.
Secretary Meyer had rushed two ar
mored cruisers to aid the American
contingent in the Turkish capital an(
on the shores of the Bosphorus, bu
these ships never got within the Gold
en- Horn, for as soon as they nearet
the Dardanelles they were diverted t.
the coast of Asia Minor at the reques
while Great Britain took upon he
shoulders the protection OF all tn
Americans fin that quarter of the
world.
It is now known that early in hi
mission Mr.. Williams sought to hav
his powers extended to include Al
bania, but the state department de
clined. 1t did, however, consent t.
Mr.. Williams earnest request to be al
lowed to make a personal investiga
ton of the Albanian situation, an
there followed the statements contain
ed in his contributions to Athens news
papers which led to his resignation.
Mr.. Williams, who was a member @
Congress years ago, is a close frien
of Secretary Bryan.
Coo oVbo II f44ln Shnriff's a Vifapran