Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-06-19
Resignation of Secretary Accept
ed by President.
NOTE TO GERMANY CAUSE
Nebraskan Unable to Join In Execu-
tlVe's Reply to kalser-Declares
1t Would Be unfair to Cause
of War PreVention"-Ac-
ton Follows Meet
ing of Cabinet.

| nings Bryan submitted his resignation
as secretary of state. 1t was accepted
Robert Lansing, present counselor
OF the department of state, automatic.
ally becomes secretary of state.
Secretary Bryan's resignation be-
| came effective June 8.
1t was stated authoritatively that
the resignation, which had been under
consideration for several days, was ac-
complished with the utmost good feel
| ing between the secretary of state and
President Wilson. 1t resulted from
differences Of opinion over the note
about to be sent to Germany.
1t was learned that the secretary of
states hour of delay in reaching the
cabinet meeting was due to time con-
sumed in the preparation of his letter
OF resignation.
Secretary Bryan's letter Of resig-
nation and the presidents letter of ac-
ceptance were given out Tuesday eve
| ming.
Opposition Admitted.
Officials let il be known Secretary
Bryan determined to leave the cabinet
because of his desire not to embarrass
the president by his opposition to the
policy of the administration in the
| present foreign situation.
In submitting his resignation Mr.
Bryan outlined his viewpoint on the
administrations policy. Letters which
have passed between the president
and Mr. Bryan are said to have fully
made known the incidents leading up
to the resignation.
While Secretary Bryan's attitude to-
ward the situation which has arisen
between this country and Germany is
not definitely known, it has been gem
orally believed that he favored a note
OF the character which under no cir
cumstances would involve the United
States in grave complications.
Resignation No Surprise.
The resignation of Mr.. Bryan was
expected in Washington. That there
has been serious disagreement be-
tween him and the president, as we'll
as other members Of the cabinet, over
the tenor and text of the German note
has been a matter which could not be
kept inside official circles.
Mr. Bryan objected to the first note
to Germany dealing with the Lusitania
incident. He believed the president
should have taken a less stringent at
titude in the first note, with view
toward settling the difficulty along the
diplomatic avenues provided under
treaties which he recently negotiated
with Great Britain and France
Pleads for Pacific Attitude.
In recent cabinet meetings Mr..
Bryan kept up his pleading for a more
pacific attitude on the part Of the ad-
ministration.
The president allowed him to re-
write part of the second note and in
corporate some of the ideas contained
10 his peace treaties
According to report, some OF Mr..
Bryan's contributions to the note have
been heavily blue-penciled by the pres
ident, who has been upheld by most
of the other members of the cabinet.
The reason ascribed by Bryan for
resignation caused as much, If not
greater. interest. than the resignation
itself.
In the second paragraph of his let
ter to the president he said:
THE issue involved is of such mo-
ment that to remain a member of the
cabinet would be as unfair to you as
it would be to the cause which is
nearest to my heart, the prevention
OF war"
The construction placed upon this
declaration of Bryan was that the note
which President Wilson and the ma
!ority Of the cabinet has decided to
send to Germany. in the judgment OF
Bryan. probably will lead to war.
When the president and the major
ity of the cabinet decided that the
United States in the new note to Ger
many would stand firmly for the
broad. humanitarian principles upon
which the presidents first note was
based. Bryan decided he could not con-
seientiously give his approval to such
a course. AS il would be necessary
that any note of the Importance OF the
German note should bear the sigma
ture of the secretary of state, Bryan
had to decide whether or not he would
affix his signature to a declaration abb
solutely opposite to his conscientious
views. He decided that he could not
do 1t. And his resignation then be-
came inevitable.
The action of Mr.. Bryan in breaking
with the president comes at a critical
period of the administration. scarcely
more psychological than that minute
Of the Baltimore convention when the
Nebraskan led the movement from
Champ Clark which resulted in the
nomination OF Woodrow Wilson.
Conscientious scruples on a matter
on which he has very decided views
are back Of Mr.. Bryan's action. Just as
they we're at Baltimore. when he broke