The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-24
BOTHDENMAN
ANDGOETHALS
:: ASKED TOQU|T
SH|PP|NGBODY
CONTINUED from First PaEe.)

CONTINUED from First PaEe.)
And the general feeling today is that
the nation from now on can expect
its shipping program to 60 forward
expedItiously.
Text Of Letters
The correspondence between the Presi-
dent, General Cocktails. and Mr.. Dem
man follows:
July n. 1911.
NY dear Mr.. Denman:
81 hope and believe that am In
terpreting your own best judgment as
well as my own when / say that our
duty concerning the debates and misun-
derstandings that have arisen in con-
nectIon with the shipbuildinE program
ought to be settled without regard to our
personal feelings altogether and with
the single purpose Of doing what will
best serve the public interest No de-
cision we can now arrive at could
eliminate the elements Of controversy
that have crept into almost every Ques-
ton connected with the program; and
am convinced that the only wise course
is to begin afresh-not upon the pro-
gram. for that Is already in large part
in process of execution. but upon the
further execution OF It.
Both Ready to Serve.
ct have found both you and General
Goethals ready to serve the public at
q personal sacrifieG Realizing that
the only manner in which the way
can be completely cleared for. har.
rnonioua and effective action Is to
carry our shipbuilding plans forward
from this point through new agencies,
General Goethsls has put his resigna-
ton in my hands; and ! have adopted
Il in the same spirit in which IL was
tendered-not as deciding between
two men whom I respect and admire,
but in order to make invidious de-
cisIonS unnecessary and let the work
be developed without further discus
sion of'what 10 past. l am taking the
liberty OF writing TO tell you this in
the confidence that you will be glad
TO take the same disinterested and
selfforgetting course that General
Cocktails has taken. When you have
done as he has done am sure that
you may count with the utmost conn.
dsnce upon the ultimate verdict OF
the people of the country with regard
TO your magnanimous and unselfsh
view Of public duty and upon winning
in the retrospect the same admiration
and confidence that I have learned to
feel for you.
with much regard and very great
appreciation of the large services you
have rendered,
CORDIALLY and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON"
Letter t. CoethaIa.
The Presidents letter TO General
Goethals also follows:
''24 July, 1917.
my Dear General Cocktails:
your letter OF July 10th does you
great honor. It IL conceived in a
fins spirit Of public duty, such as
have learned to expect OF you. This
is. as you say, a case where the
service OF the public Is the only
thing to be considered. Personal
feelings and personal preferences
must be resolutely put aside and we
must DO the thing that Is most ser
Vieeable.
at is with that thought In mind
that l feel constrained to say that I
think that you have interpreted your
duty rightly.
"No impartial determination OF the
questions At issue can now set the
AnlppullQlnE program promptly ana
effectively on its way to completion
and success. II 10 best that we take
the self-forgetting course you sug-
gest and begin again with q fresh
sheet OF paper-beGin. not the ship
building, but the further Administrt-
ton OF the program.
Work Already Begun.
The shipbuildinE Is, happily. In
large part begun and can now readily
be pushed to completion, II the air be
cleared Of the debates that have un-
fortunately dGrkened IL.
with deep appreciation, therefore,
OF your generous attitude and with
genuine admiration OF what you have
been able in q short time TO accom-
plish, I accept your resignation, and
feel that In doing so am acting upon
your own best Judgment as well as
my own 1 hope that you will feel
the sAme undoubting confidence that
feel that the people of the country,
for whom you have rendered great
services, will Judge you Justly aud
generously in this as in other things,
and that all personal mIsunderstAnd-
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