The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1915-06-11
D|SAPPROvES NOTE
President WILSON
BRYAN QUITS OFFICE
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TOO
STRONG ADVOCATE OF PEACE
TO ENDORSE ATTITUDE.
HIS RESIGNATION ACCEPTED
Chief Executive Expresses Deepest
Sorrow When Premier of the Cabi
net Refuses Longer to Remain in
Office-Note of the Commoner.


WASHINGTON, June civilian
Jennings Bryan, three times demo
cratic candidate for the presidency of
the United States and author of near
ly thirty peace treaties with the prin-
cipal nations of the world, resigned
today as secretary of state, as a dra-
matte sequel to his disagreement with
President Wilson over the govern
ment's policy toward 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 resigna-
ton takes effect 1t was learned that
he intends to continue his political
support of the President.
Rather than sign the document,
which he believes might possibly
draw the United States into war, Mr.,
Bryan submitted his resignation in a
letter declaring that "the issue in
volved is of such moment that to re-
main 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"
The President accepted the resig-
nation in a letter of regret, tinged
with deep personal feeling Of affec-
ton. The letters constituting the Of
fetal announcement of Mr.. Bryan's
departure from the cabinet to private
life were made public at the White
House at o'clock.
Secretary Bryans letter of resig-
nation was as follows:
my Dear Mr.. President:
ut is with sincere regret that /
have reached the conclusion that |
should return to you the commission
of secretary of state with which you
honored me at the beginning of your
administration.
"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 | cannot join without violating
what | 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
81, therefore, respectfully tender
my resignation, to take effect when
the note is sent, unless you prefer an
earlier hour Alike DESTROYS of reach
ing peaceful solution of the prom
lens arising out of the use of subma-
rines against merchantmen, we find
ourselves differing irreconcilably as
to the methods which should be en-
ployed.
1T falls to your lot to speak official
ly for the nation; / consider it to be
none tse less my duty to endeayor as
a private citizen to promote the end
which you have in view by means
which you do not fee at liberty to
use.
In severing the intimate and pleas
ant relations which have existed be-
tween us during the past two years,
permit me to acknowledge the pro-
found satisfaction which it 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 extend
d. -
with the heartiest good wishes for
your personal welfare and for the
success Of your administration, l am,
my dear Mr.. President,
very truly yours,
Nv. J. BRYAN"