The Detroit times., 1915-06-10

Mr.. Bryans statement. issued las
night. follows In fulli
MY reason for resigning is clear
ly stated In my letter Of resignation
namely, that ! may employ as q
private citizen the means which the
president does not feel at liberty "a
employ honor him for doins
what he believes 10 be right. and
am sure that he desires. as do, 10
find a peaceful solution OF the prob
lem which has been created by the
action OF the submarines.
Two OF the points upon which
we differ, each conscientious In con
yiction, are. FIRST, ss to the sugges-
ton Of Investigation by an inteTns-
tional commission. and, second. as
TO warning Americans against
travelling on belligerent vessels or
with cargoes Of ammunition. l be-
lieve that this nation should frankly
state to Germany that we are will
Ing to apply in this case the prime
iple TO which We are bound by
treaties TO apply TO disputes be-
tween the United States and the 80
countries with which We have made
treaties providing for Investigation
OF all disputes OF every Character
and nature.
Those treaties, negotiated under
this administration. make war prsc-
tically impossible between this
country and those 80 governments.
representing nearly threefourts Of
all the people OF the world. Among
the nations with which We have
treaties are Great Britain, France
and Russia. No matter what dis
putes may arise between Us and
these treaty nations. we agree that
there shall be no declaration OF var
and no commencement OF hostilities
until the matters In dispute have
been investigated by an interna-
tional commission and a years time
is allowed for Investigation and re
port.
This plan Vas offered 20 all the
nations without any exceptions
whatever. and Germany was one OF
the nations that accepted the prime
iple, being the twelfth. think. 10
accept No treaty xas actually en-
tered into with Germany. but can
not see that that should stand n
the way when both nations endorse
the principle. don't know whether
Germany would accept the offer. but
cur country should. in my judgment.
make the offer Such an offer, IL
accepted would az once relieve the
tension and silence all the jingoes
who are demanding war. Germany
has always been a friendly nation.
and a great many OF our people are
Of German ancestry; why should ne
not deal with Germany according 10
this plan. TO which the nation has
pledged its support
The second point of difference is
as 70 the course which shoul
in regard 10 the Americans |
on heliigerent ships or
with cargoes Of ammunition. Why |
should an American citizen be per
mitted to involve his country In war
by travelling on a belligerent ship
when be knows that the ship will |
pass through a danger zone! The
question is not whether an Ameri- |
ran citizen has a right, under inter
national law. 70 travel on a belliger- !,
ant ship; the question is whether |
he ought not. out OF consideration !
Tor his country. II not for his own |
safety. avoid danger when avoid
snce Is possible.
1T is a very one-sided citizen
ship that compels a government TO
go TO war over a citizens rights.
and yet relieve the citizen OF all OBJ
legations TO consider his nations
Welfare. do not know jus, how far
the president can legally 90 in actu-
ally preventing Americans from
on belligerent ships. but
believe the ypyarprrert should 20