Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-25
CRANE NAMED,
ree.%ieuah from p10o Ov'sI

(6D0yt000D bVV"s
,.re.a in chiua's welfare sos ~
to- 1900 that whenever ~.
mac 4 snsech he ought 70 speaA y
ont I'd hot" That uttessuce s
~ .ttr.et no pestieular attsessoa
and later Mr.. Crans atssooe
other luncheon at which WI ax
Tang. Chinese minister to the Cu
STATE emphasized the friendly m
tsrest the United States nao !"
China
ThA storm did not break. however.
until q month later when u 80
Francisco Minister Crane got . oh"
telegram from Secretary KNOX On
the eve OF embarking ordering MN
back to Washington. The reason
for the sudden ehangs IVES NOT msas
public At the time, Mr.. Crane pro
Tossing ignorance Of it. but dioio-
mats in Washington began tAlk1as
about his speeches and It began 70
leak out that some one vas o6e0oeo'
1t finally developed that . stoSy APP
pearins in a western newspaper Ac-
credited to Mr.. Crane and represent"
ing him as attacking the SGanchur-
ian agreements between China and
Japan was the real cause Of his re-
call. The story also appeared in the
japanese press and caused cousid-
efable reaction in japan over the
supposed views Of the new minister
from the United States to China
Secretary Knox issued state
ment saying that while in the de-
partment. preparatory to leaving for
his post Mr.. Crane had learned from
minor ofncials that the government
vas making an examination Of those
agreements and without the knowl-
edge or authority Of anyone con-
nected with the department.. gave out
a newspaper story to the effect that
this government was preparing 10
protest against some Of the features
or the agreements and that the pro-
mitigation Of the protest only await
ed the return Of an ofYicial who was
to formulate It,"
Secretary Knox's onieiai statement
added that Mr.. Crane had admitted
having an indiscreet talk with q report.
es and that he reluctantly reached the
conclusion that Il shall inform Mr..
Crane that his resignation will be ac-
copied and l have done So President
iaft told Mr. Crane that he concurrei
IN the views Of Secretary Knox and
great" regretted the circumstances"
Ar. Crane announced At the time that
ne never had seen the offending article
tut assumed full respon sibilitv for his
connection with II purely incidental" a.
that connection was
The state department let it be known
At the time that 1t was particularly m
fortunate that Mr.. Crane shou,d h,x.
reterred the probability OF American
protest against the Manchurian agree
"ents because it was its purpose to
rave MI, Crane sound out the Diplomat.
&c CORPS at Peking before drawins a
protest which might not command the
support Of majority Of the great No.
er5 which had accepted Secretary
rays open door, policy as bindine
upon them. The department II 80
o 'eit 'nat the statement accredited
20 ar: Crane had deprived him Of the
.van'ages he ought to have in DEALING
win such subject.
AZ, Crane vas not the first American
munster to China who failed "a ,s..h
n's post because some government oh
e.eo 10 something he had said before
hano' In the previous case it was the
Irotest OF China itself which hela nm
former Secretary Henry W. RIai- -
New Hampshire. who was on his -,
20 saRe up the legation at PekinR. be.
eAose ne had made certain yellow
perm statements in the Senate debate.
on the Chine-e exclusion law which the
,hinese felt made him persona non
grata to them.