Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-10
BRYAN QUITS OFFICE
BRYAN RESIGNS AS
SECRETARY OF STATE
CONTINUED From Hage ~

CONTINUED From llage ~
protection for American citizens on the
high seas,
Officials and diplomats who have fol-
lowed the situation very closely point
ed out that the president stood with
Mr. Bryan in the doing of everything
possible to prevent war but believed 1t
necessary also to be ready for any
to acquiesce In the American point of
view as to neutral rights on the high
seas and continued her attacks on
American lives and vessels.
VIII Support President.
Through his friends 1t is learned that
Mr.. Bryan intends to continue his po-
litical support Of the president and
plans to 90 on with work for the main
tenance Of democratic policies.
The outstanding feature, however, of
the situation was the effect OF Mr.. Bry-
ans resignation on the situation be-
tween the United States and Germany.
Heretofore, there have been many In
timations from Official sources in Ber-
lin that the viewpoint Of the United
States as expressed in the notes sent
could not be taken seriously because
Of the knowledge that Secretary Bryan
was committed against drastic meas
ures. In one of his speeches Mr.. Bryan
had said that while he was secretary of
state there never would be war. His
withdrawal at critical moment over
the very question Of adopting firm
and vigorous policy was regarded in
official and diplomatic quarters here as
likely to produce profound impress
| sion on the German government.
Note To BE Sent.
The nOte>to Germany on which the
president has been working for several
days and which has the approval of the
cabinet with the exception of Mr..
Bryan, was expected to 60 forward to-
day 1t should, therefore, reach Am
bassador Gerard about Thursday Of
this week for presentation to the Ger
man foreign Office. 1t probably will be
made public OF Thursday An answer
Is not expected from the German for
eign Office for at least a week there
after.
/ Realizing that there is little to do
but await the German answer to the
American note, many cabinet officers
took vacation today.
| Secretary Bryan received many tele-
grams expressing regret at his resig-
nation and commencing him for the
manner in which he submitted it. He
will stay in Washington for short
time and then depart for rest. His
Resignation was unexpected in official
and diplomatic Washington generally.
Only small circle of friends knew
that Mr.. Bryan had offered to eliminate
himself from the situation to prevent
further embarrassment in the cabinet.
| Twice before, It Is now known, Mr..
Bryan was willing to place be-
fore the president his resignation but
each time the president succeeded in
bringing the secretary to his own point
of view.
In Embarrassing Position.
In the present crisis Mr.. Bryan is
understood to have insisted on and
convinced the president that to remain
lin the cabinet would be very embar-
RAISING to him because of his known
advocacy of the cause, of peace, partic-
ularly his negotiation of nearly thirty
!peace treaties with the principal ma
|itions Of the world The principle OF
these treaties is that all disputes be
submitted to an international commits
sion for years investigation during
which hostilities are forbidden. Treat
les OF this kind have been negotiated
with practically all nations except
Japan, Germany and Turkey. Germany
has accepted the principle of the
treaties. The president heartily en-
dorsed the. idea of the treaties.
The situation with Germany, how
lever constitutes a case which high Of
ficials here believed could not be sub
mitted to a tribunal for investigat ton
unless some definite guarantee were
given in advance that the acts com
planned of would not be repeated while
the discussion or investigation was in
progress
Guarantee Demanded.
It Is the purpose Of the note which
Is now going forward to secure from
Germany definite guarantee with re.
ference to safeguarding American lives
and property In the future. With this
once established the United States
probably would not be averse to dis.
cussion OF the facts In the Lusitania
case. A complete investigation, how.
ever. has now been made by the Unit
ed States government and the conclu.
sion reached is that the Lusitania was
an unarmed merchantmen aboard
which citizens 1of the United States
had right under international law to
travel and, IL encountered by warships,
to be transferred to place of safety
before the contraband or the ship was
destroyed.
Bids Friends Farewell.
In the closing hours of his admin
listration, Secretary Bryan babe fare
we'll to his associates in the state de-
partment, looked after some minor ex-
ecutive questions, received newspaper
correspondents, made tour of the
state, war and navy buildings to call
| informally on colleagues. He plan
ned to turn over the affairs of his Of
Ana ~ Mr. Tanaing at | n m