New-York tribune., 1919-07-23
Declares Report He Would
Leave Cabinet Is Mere
Repetition of Former Ru.
NOR Started Long Ago
He Fails to Reach Polk
Very MucE, Disappointed at
Poor Service of Wireless
on the Liner Rotterdam

Robert Lansing, Secretary of State,
who has been in France for eight
months as one of the American dele
gates to the peace conference, arrived
last night on the Holland-Amerika
liner Rotterdam. which took him aboard
at Brest.
He was taken from the vessel while
sfse lay at anchor in Quarantine and
brought 10 the city on the coast guard
cutter Manhattan. Upon Iandinr he
went to the Hotel Bi.tmore for the
night, and Will leave for Washington
this morning
With Mr.. Lansing's arrival it was
apparent that there had been some
slip IN the plans of the State Depart
ment IN the matter o. conference
between him and Frank L. Polk. In
der Secretary Of State, who sailed for
brest on Monday aboard the transport
lmperator. Secretary Lansing was
much concerned because Of his inabil-
lty to meet Mr.. Polk and was especially
disappointed on the failure Of the Rot
terdams wireless to get into touch
with Mr. Polk on the Imperator.
Only Message Badly Garbled
The wireless service on this shin. u
said Mr.. Lansing, has been very un-
satisfactory. tried to get In touch
with Mr.. Polk yesterday, but the op-
orator was unable TO raise a response
on the 1mperator. I sent a message to
Mr.. Polk asking him what code he was
using, but got no answer
Since left Brest | have had onlv
one wireless message. That was sen.
from Paris to Cape Race and relavcd to
the Rotterdam. II vas so pa~ble1
however. that it had TO be repeated.
wanted to talk with Mr. Polk. and am
unable 20 understand why couldn't
ge1 IN touch with him"
W hen asked e there was any foun-
dauon for the reports reaching this
country that his resignation was likely
the Secretary said:
None whatever. have no thought
Of reslgning. suppose these reports
are mere repetition of the original
rumor that started some time ago"
Mr. Lansing declined to discuss
either the Mexican situation or the
Shantung controversy. He said that
while he was familiar with the latter
subject, he would grant no interview
until he had returned to Washington
In Happy Frame of Mind
Although displeased about the wire
less service aboard ship. Mr. Lansing
appeared to be in q happy frame OF
mind when he met friends at Quaran-
tine
You appear 10 be in excellent health
and splrits,' remarked one who met
him.
Always in good spirits" he an
swered with a smile, "but never II
good health
He did not enlarge upon this crvptit
remark
Mr.. Lansing was accompanied by hi:
wife, Albert Kirk, his private secretary
and Captain James Garfield, OF the 3Stf
Brigade headquarters, who had beer
Inilitary ald 10 the peace conference.
My two sisters, Miss Katherine anC
Miss Emma S. Lansing, Of Watertown
have finished their work with the Rec
Gross They are resting in Paris and
having no definite plans, did not return
with me as was expected
Another traveller on the Rotterdam
was John ". Garrett. American Min
lster to the Hague, who comes home or
ms hrst leave n five years. He wa:
sent 10 Holland from the embassy II
buenos Ayres IN August, 1914, and haC
a stop-over Of sixty hours in thi
country.
Holland Needs Ships
Holland. believe, will recove,
from the effects of the war with sur
prising rapidity." he said. She vii
require ships, Of course, to take he,
raw products from this country. an(
She will certainly look to this countr,
for trade Coal is 3 big factor nov
In Dutch industry. Holland can ge
no coal from France and very httl,
from Germany. and therefore will hav,
to get her supply from the Jnite'
States Last winter paid $40 tor
for coal Only q small number of th,
cattle Of the Netherlands have beel
sold or slaughtered, and Holland