The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-06-10
BRYAN OUT;
FEARS WAR

candidate for the presidency, and au'
thor of nearly 80 peace treaties with
the principal nations Of the world, re-
signed today as secretary Of state as
q dramatic sequel to his disagree
ment with President Wilson over the
governments policy toward Germany.
His resignation was accepted by the
president. The cabinet then approx
ed the response prepared to Ger
many's reply to the Lusitania note.
Acting Secretary Lansing will send
the document tomorrow to be cabled
to Berlin. Bryan will return to private
life tomorrow when his resignation
takes effect. 1t is learned he intends
to continue his political support of the
president. Rather than sign the doc
ument which he believed might posi-
bly, draw the United States into war,
Secretary Bryan submitted his resig-
nation.
President Regrets Parting
The president has accepted the res
ignation of Mr.. Bryan in a letter of
regret, tinged with deep personal
feeling of affection. The effect of the
resignation is interpreted variously
in official diplomatic quarters, on the
delicate situation arisen between Ger
many and the United States. The
resignation Of the staunchest advo-
cate of peace in the presidents Off
cial family has spread broadcast the
belief that the policy of the United
States as definitely determined upon
would assert and defend the rights
of the United States in any eventual
ity that might arise. Originally it
was the intention of the president and
Secretary Bryan to have the announce
ment made simultaneously with the
dispatch of the note to Germany, but
when Secretary Bryan failed to attend
the cabinet meeting today until the
president sent for him rumors that
the president was unable to persuade
Bryan filled the air.
Friction Of Long Standing
That there has been friction be-
tween the president and Secretary
Bryan has been an undercurrent COM
ment for several WEEKS, but as the
president heretofore has always been
able to secure the acquiscence of
Bryan in his point Of view, the talk of
resignation was discounted. 1t was
revealed today the position of Bryan
in the cabinet has recently become
embarrassing, his advocacy of peace
being so pronounced that other men,
bers of the cabinet who felt the United
States should assert itself, irrespec-
tive of the consequences, are under
stood to have on one occasion declared
their intention of resigning if pol
icy of frmness and vigor was not
adopted. The real disagreement dates
back to the famous session of the cab
met when the note of May 10, follow
ing the sinking of the Lusitania, was
drafted, informing Germany the Unit
ed States would not omit ANY word
IN rrofoot SIC riphfc
Bryan Cornsels Mediation
Then Mr.. Bryan made a speech
counseling peaceful measures and
cautious action. He consented to sign
the note only after it was tentatively
arranged that the statement at the
White House should be issued and
transmitted to Germany, announcing
that inasmuch as Germany has &C.
copied the principle of the peace
treaties negotiated between the Unit
ed States and other cuontries, the
difference between the two nations
might be adjusted by commission of
Investigation. Opposition to this
course was most vehement in some
cabinet quarters; but <ne president,
after considering Bryan's suggestion,
finally disapproved 1t at the hour the
note was sent. The cabinet officers
argued such an appendix to the note
would be construed abroad as 9
weakening of the American position
and their counsel prevailed.
Dramatically the official relation O.
Bryan with the administration Of thu
man whose nomination he assisted 81
materially in bringing ABOUT at thu
Baltimore convention of 1912, came tt
an end It caused a sensation in tn
national capital, scarcely paralleled il
recent years. Ambassadors, minister
and diplomatists from foreign land
and officials of every rank and station
heard the news as it was flashed b.
newspaper extras tonight.
Just when the subject was frs
preached between the president an
Bryan is not known definitely, but tn
fact Bryan would resign was known t
a small circle of officials as early a