The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-06-11
YIELDS POSITION
BECAUSE OF NOTE
UNABLE TO INDORSE STAND RE
GARDING LUSITANIA
Finds That Principles Do Not Allow
Him to Sign the New
Message.

Washington, June S.-William Jen-
nings Bryan, three times Democratic
candidate for the presidency Of the
United States, and author of nearly
80 peace treaties with the principle
nations of the world, resigned today
as secretary of state, as a dramatic
sequel to fais disagreement with Presi-
dent Wilson over the governments S
policy towards Germany.
The resignation was accepted by
the president. The cabinet then ap-
proved the response which had been
prepared to the German reply to the
Lusitania note. Acting Secretary
Robert Lansing will sign the docu-
ment and tomorrow it will be cabled
to Berlin.
Secretary Bryan will return to pri-
vate life tomorrow, when his resig-
nation takes effect. 1t was learned
that he intends to continue his polit-
ical support of the president.
Rather than sign the document
which he believed might possibly draw
the United States into war, Mr.. Bryan
submitted his resignation in a letter
declaring that "the issue involved is
of such moment that to remain a
member of tie cabinet would be as
unfair to you as it would be to the
cause which is nearest my heart,
namely, the prevention of war"
The president accepted the resig-
nation in a letter of regret tinged
with a deep personal feeling of af-
feotion. The letters constituting the
official announcement of Mr. Bryan's
departure from the cabinet to private
life were made public at the White
House at S o'clock tonight.
Secretary Bryan's letter of resigna-
ton was as follows:
ssMy Dear Mr.. President:
L "Tt is with sincere regret that l
q tsaye reached the conclusion tnat I
should return to you the commission
4 of secretary of state with which you
= aonored me at the beginning Of your
administration.
Both on Principle.
A'Obedient to your sense of duty
and actuated by the highest motives,
you have prepared for transmission to
the German government a note in
|. which can not join without violating
what 1 deem to be an obligation to
my country, and the issue involved is
of such moment that to remain a
member of the cabinet would be as
unfair to you as it would be to the
cause which is nearest my heart,
namely, the prevention of war.
<I therefore respectfully tender my
resignation to take effect when the
note is sent, unless you prefer an
earlier hour. Alike desirous of reach
ing a peaceful solution of the prob
lem arising out of the use of subma-
rines against merchantmen, We find
ourselves differing irreconciIably as
10 the methods which should be en-
ployed.
cit falls to your lot to speak Off
cialIy for the nation; I consider it to
be none the less my duty to endeayor
as a private citizen to promote the end
which you have in view by means
which you do not feel at liberty to
use.
"In severing the intimate and
pleasant relations which have existed
between us, during the past two years
permit me to acknowledge the pro-
found satisfaction which is has given
me to be associated with you in the
important work which has come be-
fore the state department, and to
thank you for the courtesies extended
with tie neartiest good wishes for
your personal welfare and for the
success of your administration, am
4 my dear Mr.. President,
Very truly yours,
I (Signed) ''W. J. Bryan"
y The presidents letter to Mr.. Bryan
was as follows:
Real Personal Regret.
l<eNLv Dear Mr. Rrran