New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-09
Relations with Wilson
Are Still Cordial,
He Says.
GERMAN NOTE ALONE
CAUSED RESIGNATION
Differences Began with Falaba
Case-Ex-Secretary TO Make
Statement To-day.
rTrom The Tribune Bureau. J

Washington. June s.-There will be
no political break as a result of Mr..
Bryan's resignation, he said tonight.
mo man with his convictions could
have done other than the President
has DONE" said Mr.. Bryan. "Nor could
have done otherwise. A man can
only do what he believes to be right
Mr.. Bryan intimated that the new
note was far more drastic than were
the notes Of February 10 or May 10.
"How do you reconcile your signing
Of the note Of May Is, containing as
il did such positive language, with
your refusal to sign the pending
note?"
THAT will be made clear in formal
statement | will make when the note
is sent, and it is now improper for
me 20 discuss that question" said Mr..
BRYAN. "But it would have been i'm
possible for me TO sign this note, feel
ing as do"
as there any special significance to
the words prevention OF war In your
letter." he was asked.
THAT also will make more clear
in my statement tomorrow" he re-
piled.
MIR. BRYAN at first declined to make
any statement as to whether. any otner
Cabinet member had convictions which
would force them to resign.
THAT is an improper question to ask
me-" he replied, but added; you see,. |
was the head of the State Department,
and as such would have had to sign
the note. so that no other member of
the Cabinet il placed in the position IN
which was pvt.
THE difference between myself and
the President on the question of these
notes did not spring up suddenly, to-
day or this week. They have existed
since the Falaba case. We have had
many talks about the questions in.
volved, and the difference in our line OF
thought has gradually grown wider. -,
Finally we agreed to disagree. we
decided on this one day last week.
do not care to state which particular
day. Ny resignation was sent to the
President early this morning, prior TO
the Cabinet meeting.
IL want TO emphasize that our reia-
tons are still extremely cordial we
believe alike on political questions. We
both regret sincerely and deeply that
this break should have come, but no
wav 10 avoid il could have been found.
He could not have done otherwise, be-
lievng as he did, and ! could not nave
taken any other course.
az might say that ! was out TO dinner
tonight with the only surviving college
classmate of my father. he is MI
Roberts. whose daughter married Mr:.
Stotesbury. of Philadelphia. We talked
together tonight of my father, and |
want to say that my father instlled
into me when ! was a boy the deter
mination always to do what | believed
TO be right. have thought over that a
great deal tonight. He left me herr
tage which was priceless, and when
was far better than any fortune ne
could have given. have done what
believed to be right in this case"
"Have you received many letters IN
dorsing the stand you have taken on
our relations with Germany"
"Many, but have not been infu-
enced by any letters; merely by what
I thought was right. ] have received a
number Of kilograms since the news OF
my resignation went out"
"Did the friction between yourself
and the President have anythin. 10 do
with Mexico and the stand taken by
the President in the affairs of that
country" oo
"Not a thing" he answered "Our
differences related solely to the notes
between this country and Germany.
There was nothing else involved
Mr.. Bryan declined to discuss the in
Auence Of his peace and breathing
spell" treaties on the situation. lie
said he would remain in Washington
for some time, but would not at this
time make any prophecy as to what he
would do on leaving the capital. He
refused to comment on who might be
chcsen &C his successor.