Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-09
Councillor of Department
Temporary Secretary
of State.
FIRST ACT SIGNING
OF GERMAN NOTE
Appointment Not to Continue More
Than Thirty Days, According to
Presidents Official Announcement
Germsn Note Forwarded to Berlin
During Afternoon - Will Not Be
Made Public Until Thursday.

Washington, June 9.-Robert Lans-
ing. counsel for the state department,
today received his formal appointment
as secretary of state ad interim.
Following is the text of the presi-
dents designation of Mr.. Lansing as
acting secretary:
1.-THE White House. Washington,
June 9, 1915.-The Honorable William
Jennings Bryan. having resigned the
Office Of secretary of state. 1, Wood
row Wilson, president of the United
States Of America. do hereby. in con-
formity with the provisions of sections
lit and 179 Of the revised statutes and
Of the act Of congress approved Feb. 9,
1891, authorize and direct the Honor
able Robert Lansing. councillor of the
department of state, to perform the
duties Of the Office of secretary of state
for a period not to exceed thirty days.
until a secretary shall have been ap-
pointed and shall have qualified.
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON,"
Note to Germany Forwarded.
After conference with President
Wilson today, Councillor Lansing an
nounced that the note to Germany
would go forward to Berlin this after
noon and would be given out for pub
lication Friday morning. He said the
United States would not wait for noti-
f1cation of notice OF It's receipt at
Berlin before giving 1t cut.
Mr.. Lansing said the work Of coding
tho note was now under way. 1t was
signed by Mr.. Lansing as acting sec
retary.
It was arranged to start the note
over the telegraph wires at o'clock.
1t Is about 1900 words in length.
Bryan's Farewell Call on Wilson.
At 1890 o'clock Mr.. Bryan left the
state department and went to the
White House, where President Wilson
received him.
Il have grown very fond of the sec
retary and am very sorry to see him
leave" he said.
President Wilson. after seeing the
secretary, went automobiling.
II feel like all the other members of
the cabinet" said Secretary Daniels"
Il regret Mr.. Bryan's resignation very
much I am very fond of Mr.. Bryan.
think the president expressed the
feelings of everybody. His own feel
ings are the feelings of all the mem
bers of the cabinet"
May Break With Germany.
While no inkling as to the contents
Of the note was given, it is understood
that an unfavorable reply will mean
the severance Of diplomatic relations
with Germany, and that attacks on
Americans thereafter might lead to
even sraver complications.
The effect on the general situation
of Secretary Bryan's withdrawal from
the cabinet was the subject of gen.
eral comment everywhere. Foreign
dipiomatists interpreted 1t as signi-
ficant Of a forceful course on the part
of the United States. They were busy
with their code books and caplegranis
tonight, advising their respective gov
errments of the cabinet change and
it's significance.
In Austro-German quarters, where
there has been some confidence that
Secretary Bryan's influence for peace
would make impossible a rupture be-
tween the United States and Germany.
the resignation of the secretary caused
much uneasiness.
Warning to Germany.
In other official and diplomatic quar-
ters the view was held that by accept
ing the resignation Of Mr.. Bryan the
President has demonstrated to Ger
m any his earnest intention Of securing
reparation for the loss of American
lives on the Lusitania and a guarantee
against other violations Of American
rights.
Count Won Bernstorff. the German
ambassador, called on Counsellor Lam
sing early in the day to inform him
that although the embassy quarters
had been removed to Cedarhurst, L. L.
he would remain here indefinitely to
await a copy OF the American note
Later 4: the day Mr.. Lansing an
nounced that the German embassy had
transmitted two more affidavits of per-
sons who claimed to have overheard
people say there were guns on the
Lusitania. Mr.. Lansing indicated that
the affidavits were not regarded as Of
Importance.
No Guns on lusitania.
The Department Of Justice has in
vestigated the evidence given in all
the afYidavits and has definitely de-
cided that there were no guns on the
Lusitania.
The report of this investigation came
to hand today and Is believed to have
been one OF the things which delayed
the American note.