The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-06-10
BRYAN E|IlSVlHY
He RESIGNED
Says Nation is Committed as TO
Submitting Disputes to
cnr73rnfSSiOn.
Comm on.
EcoGNIZES THE WAR ZONE
And Declares That Americans
Have No Business There
as PASSENGERS.

the new American note to Germany
was started on its way over the telel
graph wires at o'clock YESTERDAY
afternoon Mr. Bryan at his home
gave out this statement OF his posi-
| ton:
, My reason for resiRning Is clearly
stated in my letter OF resignation.
namely that may employ as PR
vate citizen the means which the pres
ident does not feel at liberty to en-
pIoy. honor him for doing what he
believes to he right and am sure
that he desires, as do. to ma
peaceful solution OF the problem
which has been created by the action
OF the submarines.
Two Main Points.
Two of the points on which we
differ. each conscientious in his CON
uctionS. are
-F;rst-As to the suggestion Of in.
vestigation by an international com
mission. and
"Second-As to warning Americans
against travelling on beuigerent yes
sells or with cargoes Of ammunition.
II believe that this action should
frankly state to Germany that we are
willing to apply in this case the pr1n-
ciples which we are bound by treaty
to apply to disputes between the Un1-
which we have made treaties provid-
ing for INVESTIGATION of all disputes
Of every character and nature. These
treaties negotiated under this admin
istration make war practically lmpos-
sible between this country and these
thirty governments representing near
" threefourths Of all the people OF
the world.
Germany Accepted Principle
Among the nations with which we
have these treaties are Great Britain
France and Russia No matter what
disputes may arise between us and
these treaty nations we agree that
there shall be no declaration and no
commencement Of hostilties until the
matters in dispute have been nyes-
tigated by an international commis-
sion and a'year's time Is allowed for
investigation and report This plan
was offered 10 all the nations without
any exception whatever and Germany
was one OF the nations that accepted
the principle. being the twelfth. 4
think to accept No treaty was actual
" entered into with Germany but I
cannot see that that should stand in
the way when both nations endorsed
the principle. do not know whether
Germany would accept the offer but
our country should in my judgment
make the offer.
Would Relieve Tension
..Such an offer if accepted would
at once relieve the tension and 81
lence all the jingoes who are de-
manding war Germany has always
been a friendly nation and great
many of our people are OF German
with Germany according to this plan.
to which the nation has pledged It's
support
..The second point OF difference is
as to the course which should pc
pursued In regard to Americans trav-
cling on belliSerent ships or Wa
!cargoes of ammunition Why should
an American citizen be permitted to
involve this country IN war by travel
ing on beIligerent ship when ne
knows that the ship VIII pass
through a danger zonee The cues
ton is not whether an American
citizen has a right under interna-
tional law to travel on a belligerenr
ship: the question is whether he
ought not, out of consideration for
his country. If not for his own safe
ty. avoid danger S1en avoidance is
possible. It Is a very one-sided cit
izenshlp that compels a government
to go to war over citizens right
and yet relieves the citizen OF All
obligations to consider his nation
welfare
Tafts Advice Wise.
! It do not know just how far the
president can legai1y go In actually
preventing Americans from travelling
on belliperent ships, but believe
the government should go as far as 1t
can and that in case OF doubt It
should give the. benefit OF the doubt
to the government. But even if the
government could not legally pre-
vent citizens from travelling on bel
ligerent ships it could, and in my
judgment, should earnestly advise
American citizens not to risk them
selves or the peace of their country,
and have no doubt that these warn
ings would be needed.
President Taft advised Americans
to leave Mexico when inBurrection
broke out there and President Wilson
has repeated the advice. This advice.
in my judgment, was eminenuy wise
and I think the same course should
be followed in regard to warning
Americans to keep or vessels subject
TO attack
az think. TOO. that American pas
senger ships should be prohibited
from carrying ammunition. The lives
of passengers ought not to be en-
dangered by cargoes OF ammunition
whether that danger comes from
possible explosions within or from
possible attacks from without. Pas
sengers and ammunition should not