The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-06-11
SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO
GERMANY TOO STRONG.
RESIGNATION is ACCEPTED
Other Members Of Cabinet Threatened
To Quit II Policy of Firmness
With Kaiser Was Not
Adopted.

Washington. = William ]. Bryan,
three times Democratic candidate for
the presidency of the United States
and author of nearly 30 peace treaties
with the principal nations OF the
world, resigned June as secretary
Of state as a dramatic sequel to his
disagreement with President Wilson
over the governments policy toward
Germany.
The resignation was accepted by
the president. The cabinet then ap-
proved the response which had been
prepared to the German reply to the
Lusitania note. Acting Secretary Rob-
ert Lansing will sign the document
and 1t will be cabled to Berlin.
Secretary Bryan returned to private
life June 8, when his resignation took
effect. 1t was learned that he intends
to continue his political support of the
president.
Rather than sign the document he
believed might possibly draw the
United States into war, Mr., Bryan sub
mitted his resignation in letter de-
claring that "the issue involved is OF
such moment that to remain a mem
Der of the cabinet would be as unfair
to you as 1t would be to the cause
which is nearest my heart namely,
the prevention of war;"
The president accepted the resig.
nation in a letter of regret, tinged
with deep personal feeling OF affec-
ton.
Dramatically the official relation of
Mr.. Bryan with the administration of
the man whose nomination he assist
ed so materially in bringing about at
the Baltimore convention OF 1912 came
to an end. It caused sensation in
the national capital scarcely parallel
ed in recent years. Ambassadors,
ministers and diplomatists from for
eign lands, officials of every rank and
station, heard the news as 1t was
flashed by newspaper extras. They
Interpreted variously its effect on the
delicate situation that had arisen be-
tween Germany and the United States.
The resignation of the stanchest adj
vocate of peace in the presidents Of
fetal family spread broadcast the be-
lief that the policy of the United
States as definitely determined upon
would assert and defend the rights OF
the United States In any eventuality
that might arise.
That there had been friction be-
tween the president and Mr.. Bryan
has been the undercurrent of com
ment for several weeks, but as the
president heretofore had always been
able to secure the acQuiescence OF the
secretary In his point Of view. talk of
resignation was discounted generally.
II came to light June 8 that the posi-
ton Of Mr.. Bryan in the cabinet re-
Gently has become very embarrass-
ing-his advocacy Of peace being SO
pronounced that other members of the
cabinet who felt that the United
States should assert Its policy. ire
spective of the consequences, we're
understood to have on one occasion
declared their intention Of resigning
II policy of firmness and vigor were
not adopted.
Robert Lansing, successor to John
Bassett Moore as counsellor OF the
state department, became secretary
of state ad interim June 8, when Sec
rotary Bryan's resignation took eff.
feet. He is son-in-law of John w.
Foster. secretary of state under Pres
ident Harrison, lifelong Democrat.
and has been an international lawyer
for many years.