South Bend news-times., 1915-06-09
Bryan Also Declares Belief
That President Should Warn
United States Citizens to
Keep off BeIIigerent Vessels.
POINTS OUT REASONS
FOR RESIGNING POST

WASHINGTON June s.-WIham
Jennings Bryan today declared that
| the disagreement with prost Wilson
over the application of the principle
of the peace treaties to thc demand of
! the United States that Germany cease
submarine attacks upon merchantmen.
was one Of two reasons why he re-
signed from the cabinet The second
reason was their dISa grccment over
| Mr.. Rryan's suggestion thar Amcri-
cans be warned against travelling On
belIgereut vessels or with cargoes of
ammunition.
Mr.. Bryan statement given Out ar
the moment the note 20 Germany was
| put on the cables this afternoon is as
follows.
MY reason for resiEning IS clearly
stated IN nay letter OF resignation,
namely. that may employ as pii-
vate citizen the means Whica the
president does not feel at liberty to
employ. ] honor him for doul what
he believes 10 be right and ann sure
that he desires. as / do. to Hud
peaceful solution of the problem
which has been created by the action
of the submarines
Two of the points upon which we
differ each conscious ln con nNicuon,
are first, as TO the suggestion of in-
vestigation by an international COM
mission, and. second. AS % warning
! Americans against travelling on bel
| ligerent vessels or with cargocs ot
ammunitions j believe that th.s MAJ
ton should frankly state Co Germany
| that we are willing to apply ln this
case the principles which He are
| bound 10y treaty 90 apply 90 disputes
1 between the United states and the
countries IN which We have made
treaties proVidius for inVcstiga ton of
all disputes OF every character and
/ nature These treaties. ueSOtatcd un-
der the administration. make war
! practically impossible between this
country and the 30 governments rep
resenting nearly threc-fourths of All
the people OF the world. Amun- the
nations with which we have these
treaties are Great Britain. France and
Russia. No matter what dispute may
arise. between us and these treaty
nations. we asrce that there shall se
no declaration of war and no COM
mencement of hostilities until the
matters IN dispute have been inVcst-
gated by an International commission
and a years time IS allowed FOR in-
Vesugation and report.
Germany Accepted Plan.
This plan was offered Go an the
nations without any exceptions what
ever and Germany was one Of the
nations that accepted the principle.
being the 18th. I think. 10 accept.
30 treaty was actually entered into
with Germany. but I cannot see that
that should stand in the way when
both nations indOrsed the principle.
do not know whether Germany
would accept the offer. but oEr c0un-
itry should. in my judgment. make the
offer such an offer III accepted would
at once relieve the tension and silence
all the jinEOea who are demanding
1rrtr h.9
friendly nation and r. great many Of
our people ere of German ancestry.
WHY shOulL We not deal with Ger
many according 90 this plan a. which
the nation has pledged its support?
THE second point Of difference IS
as 20 the course which should be pur-
sued In regard 90 the Americans trav-
cling on bcllisercnt ships or with car
goes OF ammunition.
''Why should am American citizen
be permitted % involve his country in
war by travelling upon belIgerent
ship when he knows that the ship
viii pass through a danger zone
Not Question OF Right.
The question ls not whether an
American citizen has a right under
international law 10 travel on "a bell
ligerent ship and the question is
whether he ought not. out OF Cou-
sideTation for his country. u not for
MS own safety. avoid danger when
avoidance Is possible. It Is a very one
sided citizenship that cOlnpcls a Eov-
ernment 10 90 10 war over d citizen
right and yet relieves the citizen on
all obligation 10 consider his nation s
Welfare. L cont know just how far
the president can legally 90 in actual
lv preventing Americans from travel
ing GA belligerent ships. bat believe
the government should 60 as far az
10 can and give benefit OF the doubt 90
the government. But even II he gov
ernment could not legally prevent
citizens from travelling on beligerent
ships. IL could. and in my Judgment
should. earnestly advise American cit-
izens not 20 risk themselves or the
peace Of their country and I have no
doubt that these warnings would oe
needed. Prest Tart advised Ameri-
cans 90 leave Mexico. when insurrec-
ton broke o. there and Pres't Wu-
son has repe. ted the advice. This ad-
vice in my Judgment was eminentlv
wise and I think the same course
should be followed IN regard % warm
ing Americans u keep ON vessels sub
ject % attack
should Not Garry Ammunition
"I think. too. that American pas
senger ships should he prohibited from
carrying ammunition The lives II
passengers should not De endangered
hy carRoes of ammunition whether
that danger comes from possible eN-
plosions within or from possible at
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