Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-06-17
ogliEvEs REPLY TO GERMANY
MIGHT POSSIBLY DRAW
UNITED STATES INTO
WAR--PREsipENT
ACCEPTS.
ACTING SECRETARY WILL
CABLE ANSWER TO BERLIN
Lansing win Sign Document a Once
Cabinet Approves Response Pre-
pared to Tsuton Reply on In
sitania.---eryan TO Return
10 Private Life.

to Private Lie.
Washington, June s.--William Jen-
n1nSs Bryan. three-time Democratic
candidate for the presidency OF the
United States and author OF nearly
thirty peace treaties with the principal
stations OF the world, has resigned ~
Secretary OF State 40 q dramatic Sc
guel to his disagreement with Presi-
lent Wilson over the governments
policy toward Germany.
The resignation was accepted BY the
President The cabinet then approved
The response which had been pre-
pared to the German reply to tho Lust
tania note. Acting Secretary Robert
Lansing will sign the document and
4 viii be cabled to Berlin at once.
Returns 10 Private Life.
Secretary Bryan will return to pri-
yats life when his resignation takes
effect. 1t was learned that he intends
10 continue his political support OF
the President.
Rather than sign the document
which he believed might possibly draw
the United States into war, Mr.. Bry-
an submitted his resignation In 4 let
ter declaring that "The issue involved
II OF such moment that to remain q
member of the cabinet would be 40
unfair to you as II would be to the
cause which Ii nearest my heart.
namely, the prevention OF war"
Wilson Regrets Resignation.
The President accepted the resig-
nation In letter Of regret, tinged
with deep personal feeling OF affec-
ton. The letters constituting the Of
fetal announcement OF Mr.. organs
departure from the cabinet to private
life, were made public at the White
House at 9 o'clock In the evening.
Causes sensation In Capital.
Dramatically the Official relation Of
Mr.. Bryan with the administration Of
the man whose nomination he assisted
20 materially In bringing about at the
Baltimore convention OF 1912, came to
An end. II caused sensation In the
national capital, scarcely parallsled In
| recent years. Ambassadors, ministers
and diplomatists from foreign lands,
oficials OF every rank and station,
heard the news as 1t was flashed by
newspaper extras. They interpreted
variously It's effect on the delicate
situation that had arisen between Ger.
many and the United States. The
resignation OF the staunchest advocate
Of peace In the Presidents official fam
lily spread broadcast tho belief that the
| policy OF the United States AZ detin-
itely determined upon would assert
and defend the rights OF the United
States in any eyemuality that might
| arise.
Originally II was the intention OF
the President and Mr.. Bryan TO have
the announcement Of the resignation
made simultaneously with the dis
patch of the note to Germany, but
when Mr.. Bryan did not attend the
cabinet meeting until President viii.
SON sent for him, rumors that the
President had been unable to bring
the Secretary OF State to his point oil
view filled the air. Finally, shortly
before o'clock, the news leaked out
and was confirmed.
| Bryan Keeps Secret.
4 When the principles On which the
note to Germany should be based were
discussed at the cabinet meeting OF
Friday, Mr.. Bryan found that he could
not reconcile his own position with
that OF the administration. Work on
the note went forward, however. Mr.
Bryan keeping his secret, as did other
eflcials, awaiting the hour when the
communication would be ready to be
sabled.
The cabinet assembled for a final
reading OF the note. Mr.. Bryan was
absent. He declined to receive news
paper men or callers and sent out
Word that he had been delayed on &C
count OF important business. At the
White House no word as TO the reasons
for his failure to appear at the meet
Ing we're given, but after the cabinet
Had been discussing the note for ar
hour. Mr.. Bryan arrived. telling the
nevspaper men at the White House
that he regretted being late.
President Sends invitation.
II was learned that with the knowl
edge that his resignation had already