The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-03-03
CHARLES r. CRANE
tMlNiSTERATO CHINA
Mt Washington. Had Place Once
Before, But Was Recalled.

lionaire and world traveller, who was
appointed minister to China by Presi-
dent Taft in 1909 and irecalled while
on the way to Peking for talking too
much" has been selected by President
Wilson for tho same post to succeed
DR.. Paul Reinsch.
Mr.. Cranes selection by the Ipresi-
dent reopens a chapter of diplomatic
history, which although forgotten by
many, was one of the most likely in
cidents in American foreign relations.
1T was quite generally stated and
believed by many in touch with for
egn affairs, that Mr.. Cranes recall
in 1909 was at the instance of the
Japanese government, which was re-
ported not only to have regarded his |
appointment as offensive, but objected
also to a man whom Mr.. Crane was
taking as q private secretary and ad-
wiser and who was quite we'll known
for writings construed as antiJapan-
esc.
None of the real inside story Of Mr.
Cranes recall appears on such diplo-
matte documents as We're permitted to
become public and as the records
stand President Taft changed his mind
about Mr.. Cranes fitness for the post
in the Far East after agreeing with
Secretary Knox that Mr. Crane had
talked too much" and had been in
discreet in some of the speeches nc
made while on his way to San Fran
cisco to take an army transport for
China.
MIR. Crane came again into public
notice during President Wilson'S ad-
mnistration when the president Of
fered hm the post Of ambassador to
Russia, which he declined. Later Mr.
Crane was a member OF the commits
sion headed by Former Secretary Root,
which went to Russia and he has gen
orally been regarded in government
circles as one of the few men who
were "close to the president"
or course, the Chinese government
has accepted Mr.. Crane as being per-
soma grata, as 1t had in 1909; other
wise, according to diplomatic proceed
urc, he would not have been selected
again. Whether the Japanese govern
ment knew Of President Wilson'S in
tentions 10 send Mr. Crane to China
can only be conjecture, for while
1t is not customary for one govern
ment to consult a third government
on it's selections OF diplomats to be
y accredited to another power, some Of
fetal folk in Washington feel that In
view of the previous incident in which
Mr.. Crane figures and the genera
aspects Of the situation in the Fal
East, President Wilson probably
would not have selected him without
feeling that his appointment woult
cause no disagreeable incident be
tween the United States and Japan.
Mr.. Crane was appointed minister
to China by President Taft in Septem
: Der, 1903, and in Chicago while OF
his way to San Francisco at com
plimentary luncheon quoted Mr.. Taf
as having told him OF Americas IN
terost in China's welfare and having
added that whenever Mr.. Crane mad
speech he ought to speak 1t on
redhot" That uttcrancc seemed to at
tract no particular attention and late
Mr. Crane attended another lunchco
at which WI Ting Fang, Chimes
minister to the United States, empha
sized the friendly interest the Unite
States had in China.
The storm did not break, however
until month later when In San Fran
cisco, Mr. Crane got brief Telegram
from Secretary Knox, on the eve {
emharking, ordering him back
Washington. The reason for the SUE
den change was not made public {
the time, Mr.. Crane protesting igno1
ance of it, but diplomats in Washing
ton began talking about his spcecht
and it began to leak out that son
one was offended.
1t finally developed that stol
appearing in western newspaper a
credited to Mr.. Crane and represen
ing him as attacking the Manchuria
agreements between China and Japa
were the real causes OF his reca
The story also appeared in the ia
anese press and caused considerab
reaction in japan over the suppos'
views OF the new minister from Il
~ of tn