The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-10
Thinks Nations Should Settle
Difference in Accordance
With Arbitration Treaty
AMERICANS SHOULD KEEP
OUT OF DANGER ZONE
Question Not One of Right to
Travel On BelIigerent Ship
But Of Proper Consideration
for Country's Welfare

Washington, d. c., June 9.--Secre'
tary of State w. J. Bryan this morn
ing, upon being advised of the dis
patch OF the German note. issued the
following statement explaining ths
primary reasons for his resignation
from the cabinet.
My reason for resignIng Is clearly
stated in my letter of resignation.
namely, that l may employ as pri-
waite citizen the means which the Pres
ident does not feel at liberty toem-
pioy honor him fro doing what he
believes to be right, and am sure
that he desires. as / do. to find
peaceful solution of the problem which
! has been created by the action of the
submarines.
Two of the points upon which we
differ. each conscientious In convic-
tons, are, first. as to the suggestion OF
investigation by an intel national com
mission, and. second, as to warning
Americas against travelling on bel
ligere vessels or with carEoes o.
ammunition. ! believe that this ma
ton should frankly state to Germany
that We are willing to apply in this
caes the principle to which we are
bound by treaties to apply to disputes
between the Urited States and the
thirty countries with which we have
made treaties providing for inyesti-
CATION of all disputes OF every char
acret and nature.
Those, treaties, negotiated under
this administration, makes war prac-
tically impossible between this eoun-
try and those thirty governments rep
resenting nearly three-fourths of al.
the people of the world. Among the
nations with which we nave treaties
are Great Britain. France and Rus
sia. No matter what dispute may arise
between US and these treaty nations.
we agree that there shall be no COM
mencement of hostilities until the
matters in dispute have been fnvesti-
gated by an international commission.
and a years time is allowed TO in
vestigate and report.
This plan was offered to all the
nations without any exceptions what
ever, and Germany was one OF the
nations that accepted the principle.
being the twelfth. / think, to accept
No treaty was actually entered into
with Germany. But / cannot see that
that should stand in the way when
both nations endorse the principle.
do not know whether Germany would
accept the offer, but our country
SnouIu. IN my judgment, make the OF"
fer. Such an offer. IL accepted. would
at once relieve the tension and ST.
lence all the jingoes who are demand
ing war. Germany has always peen
a friendly nation and a great many
of our people of German ancestry:
why should we not deal with Ger
many according to this plan TO which
the nation has pledged its support?
Avoid Danger.
The second point OF difference Is
as TO the course which should be
pursued In regard to Americans trav-
cling on belligerent ships, or with
cargoes OF ammunition. Why should
an American citizen be permitted to
involve this country in war by travel
ing on a belligerent ship when he
knows that the ship will pass through
a danger zone? The question is not
whether an American citizen has q
right, under international law. TO
travel on a beliigerent ship: the ques-
ton Is whether he ought not. out Of
consideration for his country, II not
for his own safety. avoid danger when
avoidance is possible.
1T is very one-sided citizen that
compeis a government to go to war
over citizens rights and yet re-