Show BRY aRYAN r N A-N AGAIN EXPLAINS REFUSAL L TO SIGN THE NOTE mm HE STOOD FOR MEOlA MEDIATION TION ift TREATIES Claims Change Was Made i in inTone Tone of Missive at Last Moment BELIEVES IN WILSON Sees Chance for Peaceful Settlement Faith in Berlin Friendship WASHINGTON INGTON June 12 Former r Secretary of ot State Bryan tonight de denied denied do- do nied riled all aU allegations that he was InconSistent in inconsistent In- In U In-U consistent In signing tho the original noto to Germany an tho communication communication cation and In refusing to sl sign n tho re rejoinder rejoinder rejoinder re- re joinder now before tho kaiser and his government Ho carefully explained that when he signed tho the two first notes ho was explaining that tho the United States would tako tak stops wJ which ch would make it easy for Germany to comply The sups steps he desired acceptance of the tha arbitration pl plan n agreement nt to f warn worn American citI citizens ens to cep off orf steamers carrying munitions and k sending a n. note rote to Great Britain protesting pro- pro r testing against her per interference with the hEt freedom of Gf tho seas He taught ought for for those ideis up to tho the last he 5 sold said and wh when n they were finally re- re there was nothing for or him to toI I do tic and remain consistent but to re refuse refuse re- re fuse tulle to sign tho the final note Incidentally Bryan confirmed tho the report that the latest noto note was modifIed modified mod mod- after ho had tendered his resignation rca res ignation but ho explained that tho the f modifications wore oro not sufficient tent for tor him bIm to have havo withdrawn his tb tion N Note fo Modified Tho o chief chic modification on in In Inthe the note It It wa wad waa learned tonight was wa to open a a. loop loop-holo for tor Germany In connection connection cornice cornice- tion with th the jAs As orIginally originally originally nally drawn the rejoinder In disposing disposing ing lug of at all German contentions that the linor was an armed auxiliary cruiser yIn carrying J munitions Illegally and t transporting Canadian re reservists characterized them as irrelevant ant At Bryan's Bryans suggestion It was understood understood under under- stood 1 there thero was finally written Into the note the following paragraph if U 1 the imperial German government government government govern govern- ment should d deem eni itself to be bf in pos poe se sessiOn of ot convincing con evidence that the officials of or the government nt of the United States did not perform these duties inspection of ot oc ocean an steamers to enforce their observation atlon of ot neutrality nou- nou with thoroughness tho the government gov gov- of ot the United States sincerely sin sin- in- in hopes that It will submit that o i evidence nce for con consideration German Pride Saved While this was a distinct concession concession conces conces- sion don to Germany Inasmuch as it saved Raved her pride Bryan distinctly states 1 tonight that the note noto did not go HO far enough nt at any time to warrant warrant war war- rant him in signing it UJ My attention has been called toa to toa a n. number of oC newspaper articles and editorials which in varying vl language ask asIc the tho question Why did dic Mr Bryan sign the first l note to Germany and refuse to sign th tim tho second 7 Time Thc argument presented in the tIme I question is ba based Jed upon the supposition supposition tion that tho the two notes were substantially substantially the same ame 1 and that the second I note simply reiterated the demands contained in the first They then it inconsistent to sign the one and amI then to refuse to sign the other Tho The difference between tho time two cases would seem obvious enough to make makeIn makeen rn In answer unnecessary but lest si silence silence si- si lence on the subject be he taken as an admission of ot inconsistency tho the following following fol tol- fol- fol lowin lowing explanation is given Tho The notes must be considered In connection with circumstances under which they were wore sent The first note presented the time case of this government government government govern govern- ment upon such evi evidence ence as we vo then had It wa was like tho the plaintiffs plaintiff's statement state state- ment mont in the tho cas case his claim being based upon the facts acts as he presents them 1 I did not agree entirely with tho the language a of the first noto note but the differences was not so BO material on M to Justify a refusal to sign it Then too too at that time I was hoping that that- certain things would bo be done dono which would mako it easier for Germany to acquiesce in our demands Considered Arbitration Tho three things which I had in mind which in my Judgment would have helped the situation were First an announcement on our part that we ve were willing to apply tho the principle embodied in our thirty arbitration treaties second a action which would prevent American citIzens citizens citizens citi citI- zens from traveling on belligerent ships or on American ships carrying contraband third further insistence upon our against interference with our trade with neutrals I thought that these throe t tIngs things were within tho the range ronse Qt possibilities and that two or at least on one was able Some weeks have havo elapsed since tho the first note was sent and anti we have havo only failed tailed to do anything of ot tho the things hoped honed for tor but Germany n has haa in tho the meanwhile answered and in her note not only has presented a number numb r of ot alleged fac facts 11 which in her hr Judgment judg justified the tho deviation which she has made from the or ordinary ordinary or- or dinar rules applicable in prize cases roses but she has suggested arbitration A rejection of ot tho the arguments which she sime has presented and of oC tho the allegations made together with a reiteration of or ortho tho the original demands demand as made con- con a vel very different situation from that which existed the original demand was made As AP I have havo before stated my ray te-ar te has hM been been- owing to the feeling existing in Germany tho the government go might upon receipt of ot such sueh a a. note under such circumstances break off oft diplomatic relations and thus create creato a situation out of ot which war 81 might come without the intention nt nten- nten n- n tion of ot either olther side Believes in President I am sure that th 5 president does not war and that the time people dOnot do donot not want war I have havo no reason to believe that either tho German government government gov gov- or the time German people want war But war a a. calamity at any anytime anytime anytime time is especially to be avoided a now because our nation is relied upon by byboth byboth byboth both neutrals and belligerents as the thc cne nation which can exert an in influence influence In- In I fluence towards bringing that war to toan toan tonn an nn end If It we were b by accident to tobe tobe tobe be drawn into the conflict vo wo would not only surrender the opportunity to act as 03 a n. mediator but we might bo be responsible for tor d drawing other nations into tho the conflict When we seo sea how ono nation after another has been dragged into this war we cannot have confidence that anyone can calculate cal cal- ulata with certainty the results that ml might ht follow If It we become embroiled in the war var I No would be happier than I IJ J if tho the presidents president's plan pl results in a ap p peaceful settlement but no one ODO was in position to sa say what ctt effect ct our aur note would have havo upon Germany or what results would follow tollow if she in anger angor broke off diplomatic relations ad I was ns not only unwilling to as assume as- as sumo sume the responsibility for tor the risks incurred risks Incurred risks which no one ono could at any degree measure but measure but I felt that hiving having done all nIl I could In tho the cabinet c. it was vas my dut duty to und undertake outside of tho the cabinet the work upon which I have entered Stands for Treaty I have havo no doubt tho the country will unanimously support the time pi president during hiring the war if It so great a misfortune tune tuno should o us but I behove believe be be- I lIe hove that thelt the chances of ot war v. v will Ill be in proportion as na the time country expresses itself in favor of ot peace peace- not peace at an any price but price but pf pence peace ce in preference to a war waged for tor or tho the redress of ot such grievances as we havo n. n against Germany at nt least against war u until wo have given to Germany the tho opportunity which wo we are pledged to give Great Britain Franco France and nu to to to have every difference of ot very cry character submitted to an tn in international international in- in committee c cf of tion I would contend ae as earnestly for tor tho the application of the treaty principle principle prin prin- ciple to the allies as aB I contend m in the or Germany If It the principle Is t it ou ought ht to be bo applied to every country with which we have a difference differ differ- nee flee and If It it ought to be ap applied lied at atall atoil oil nIl I think it better to suggest st it In Inthe Inthe inthe the beginning than to adopt it later after a n seeming reluctance to apply appl it |