The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-06-16
BRYAN COULD
NOT SIGN NOTE
Retirement Conforms to Prin-
CipIss of Peace.
NOTE FORWARDED TO BERLIN
Calls For Prompt Expression From
Germany as to Principles Of Sub
marine Warfare - Resignation OF
Of Bryan Came as Surprise.


marine Warfare = Resignation OF
Of Bryan Came as Surprise.
Washington, June 9.-The resigna-
ton of William ]. Bryan as secretary
of state has been accepted by Presi-
dent Wilson, to take effect immedi-
ately.
Mr.. Bryan retires from the Wilson
administration because he is not able,
conscientiously, to sign the note which
the president is about to dispatch to
Germany. To attach his signature to
this communication would, in the
opinion of Mr.. Bryan, be unfair to the
cause nearest his heart-namely, the
prevention of war.
At the direction of President VIII
son, Robert Lansing, acting secretary
of state, has signed the note. 1t has
been rushed into the hands of state
department experts to be coded, and
will be on its way to Berlin by the
time the American public is reading
the startling details of Mr.. Bryan's
refusal to lend his name to 1t as sec
retary of state.
The note to which Mr.. Bryan was
unable to subscribe, firmly restates
the position of the United States, re-
iterates President Wilson's previous
demands, and calls upon Germany for
a prompt expression whether or not
she intends to abide by the principles
of international law and humanity.
Three principles stand out impress
sively among those which Washing
ton believes will come from this re-
markable occurrences:
First. That the country will be d.
vided on the question of President
Wilson's policy towards Germany.
Second. That there will be a real
awakening in Germany to the determi-
nation of the president, and the seri-
BUSINESS of the situation confronting
them as a result of this governments
demands.
Third. That there will be change
in the administrators general for
eign policy; the substitution of
vigorous assertion of American rights
for the temporizing policy of the last
two years. --
Mr.. Bryan from the administration, 1t
was the effect of this action upon the
immediate crisis between the United
States and Germany over which
Washington officials were chiefly con-
cerned.
One sentence in Mr.. Bryan's letter
of resignation to the president was
puzzling. This sentence read: "Obedi-
ent to your sense of duty and actuated
by the highest motives, you have pre-
pared for transmission to the German
government a note which I cannot
join without violating what 1 deem to
be an obligation to my country, and
the issue involved is of such moment
that to remain a member of the cabi-
net would be as unfair to you as 1t
would be to the cause which is near
est my heart, namely, the prevention
of war"
In some quarters this sentence was
construed as a plain intimation that
Secretary Bryan feared that one OF
the possibilities of the note which
President Wilson has ordered for
warded to Germany is war. The other
construction was that Secretary Bryan
feared that his acquiesence in the
presidents refusal to discuss the IIusi-
tania facts with the Berlin govern
ment would be a death blow to the
principles for which Mr.. Bryan has
contended, and which he has EN-
bodied in twenty peace treaties with
foreign governments.
While the correspondence between
the president and Mr.. Bryan is
marked with the utmost cordiality on
the presidents part, In fact, with
manifestations of deep regret and
sorrow. there was one sentence in
Secretary Bryan's letter which indi-
Gates that he will not hesitate to use
all means at his command to prevent
a rupture with Germany. The infer
ence seems to be that Mr.. Bryan
would throw the weight of his per
sonal power against any such CON
tingency.
On the other hand President Wilson
makes 1t plain that he has accepted
Secretary Bryan's resignation only
because Mr.. Bryan has insisted, and
that he expects the cooperation OF
Mr.. Bryan in accomplishing his poll
cies of the administration.
The fear expressed in Washington
Is that Mr.. Bryan's stand will give
rise to a difference of opinion in re
gard to the presidents note. Such q
division will, of course. not only add
to President Wilson's tribulations
but will greatly weaken the strength
Of this governments representation
In Germany by giving Germany the
impression that the country is divided
as to sentiment regarding the Ber
lin note.
The presidents advisers are hop
Ing. however, that the country will &C
: cept the larger view of the situation
, and demonstrate that It stands a.
: heartily behind the president In hii
: present course as 1t did when the frs
tote was dispatched