Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-06-09
Retiring Secretary Unable
TO Agree to Views Held
by Executive.
POINTS TO TREATIES
Questions Right Of Ameri.
cans TO Travel on Bel
hgerent Ships.

wsshiuEton. u. C.. June s.-Juat as
th~ neW American note 10 Germany
Was started on its uay over the teie-
graph uirrs. Nr Bryau o. his home
gave oat this stst-tavut of his posi-
tioas
NJ reason f9r FrsiEninE is clearly
stated 90 my letter % resignation.
nsmeiy. thar Z may empioy a. a pFi-
vat@ citizen the means which the
president does nos teei az liberty TO
empjoys . honor him for doing shat
be- believes 90 b. right. and I am sure
nat be desires. a. DO. 60 dHd a
peaceful s1tution % the problem
wtieh has been created by the ae-
tiou % ere submarines
T~o % the points on which 80
differ each considerations Co. his con
Virtioas are
~F1rss. as Co the suEErstiou % Ia
usstiEatioa hg an International CON
aaissson. anf.
Second. as 90 warning Americans
against travelling on b~iiissrcnt YES
ssis o. wjth earEp~s % ammunition
4 believe that the nation should
frankly state 90 Germany that 80 arr
WittiaE 90 apply 90 this case the
prtneipis Whieh 80 are bound by
treaty 20 apply 90 disputes between
ths Cuftef States and 20 countries
With wsfch 80 have made treaties
providing fog tnVessfEatfon % al dis
Batss % ever character snd nature
These treaties. negotiated uudsr
tsis administration. make var prac-
tfcsiiy impossible between this coun-
sry and ths 20 governments represent
ing thrce-f8aFths % ali the people %
ths Woris
Fi~dE- u inte-tiEafisu-
~AmonE ths nations wiih which We
have these treaties are Great britain.
France and Russia 40 matter What
disputes may arise between as and
these treaty nations. 80 agree that
there shall b. no declaration and no
commencement % hostiiities until
the matters in dispute have been In
vsssiEas-d BY an international com
raissiou. and q years time ts allowed
for investigation and report This
plan Vas offered Co eli the nations.
without any exception whatever. and
Germany uas one of the nations that
accepted the pFineipls. being the i2th.
I thtnk. 20 accept. No treaty Vas ac-
tuaiiy entered into With Germany. but
cannot So that that should stand In
the way when both nations endorsed
the principle I do not know whether
Germany would accept the offer. but
our country shoutd. In my Judgment.
make the oTcF.
such an OTTER. 70 accepted. would
AZ oace relieve the tension and slicnee
all the iinEncs Who are demanding
var Germany has always been a
friendly nasioa and great many %
our people are % German ancestry
Why should 40 not deal WITH Ger
many according 20 this plan. 20
Whieh the nation has pledged its
support.
The second point % difference Is
as 20 ths course which should b.
pursued IN regard 20 Amerieans trav-
eiiuk or b-iiiEcreut ships or With
earEoSs % ammunition
Why should an American citizen
- permitted 60 invoivc his country
ia var by travelling on briiiErrcn'
ship wheu he knows that the ship
Wtit pass through q danger roncs
The question - NOT whether an Amer
team efsis~z has = right under inter
national tsU 90 travel on b~iiiEercnt
ship: the question T. whether ne
oaEhs not. ous % consideration for
hts eouasry. 70 not for his Own safety.
avoid dagger when avoidance u
possible
Ei.ks >hsaid Vet Re Taken
IL Is = very one-sided citizenship /
.kat eotup~is = Eorsrrmsut 90 60 TO
var over a eitiEcn's rights and yet rc-
issvs The eitiE~a % all obligations 20
eoassssr his nssion's welfare do no;
xnow fzss ho~ far the pressdcnt can
legally 20 IN actually preventing
from travelling on beiiiE-
Great ships. bat believe the govern
men. shoaia 90 as far as !, can. and
that sa case os doubt !; shoaia give
the b~asat % the dOuh; 20 the gov
-rumrnt.
But even ~ the government could
rot legally prsvsat citizens from
travelling ou beiiiEsren; ships. .,
-oaid. ard IN my Judgment. should
earnestly advise American citizens
roe 80 risk themselves or the peace