The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-02-19
President Says Secretary OF
State Followed Guidance With
Increasing Reluctance.
TRIED TO UsURP POWER.
says Ne Fsit Secretary Took Orders
N Paris Reluctantly ard Since Then
Has Apparently sought 10 Fore
stan Judgment ef Executive

Washington. Robert Lansing rrtir.
81 from tie Office ~ secretary ~
state under sensational circumstances
involving personal differences with
President Wilson.
Correspondence between the Presl.
dent aud bis secretary of state, made
public tonight. shows that the Prcxi-
dent accused Secretary Lansing Of ar.
tempting 20 usurp the executive au,
thority and Of being out ~ harmony
With the views and suggestions of the
President
Smartinr under these accusations,
MIR. Lansing rendered his resignation
co the President. who accepted H.
Frank l.. Polk. under secretary OF
state. will be made secretary of state,
ad interim. 10 act until President VIII
son appoints successor 10 Robert
lansing
The circumstances OF Mfr. Lansing's
retirement sharply recall the quarrel
between President benjamin Harrison
and James O. Blaine. which resulted
In MFR Blalnes sudden resignation
from the secretaryship OF state. MFR.
Blaine was succeeded Ia that office
By General John W Foster the father.
fn-law OF Mr.. Lansing.
In all It's features the resignation OF
Mr Lansing Is equally sensational
with that of William J Bryan, who
lcfl the cabinet In June, 1915, and
was succeeded by Mr. Lansing. who
had been counselor of the state depart
ment
While the correspondence made pub
llc shows that Nit Lansings resigna-
tinn was rendered as an outcome Of
dissatisfaction on the Presidents part
with the action Of Mr. Lansing IN cali
ing cabinet meetings without consult
lne the President. Il Is also disclosed
that there had been strained relations,
or what Amounted 90 strained rela.
tlonS between the President and the
secretary for more than year
The whole story Is embraced 10 two
sentences from the correspondence
which was made public.
"If. however. wrote the secretary
or state IL response "a note Of In.
qniry a. to his motives and reasons
Tor calling the cabinet together, you
thlnk that ! have failed. IN my Loyalty
10 you aud II you no longer have con.
ndence In me aud prefer 20 have an.
other conduct our foreign ntairs
am. of course. ready. Mr. President,
10 relieve you of any embarrassment
Is placing my resignation In your
hands"
"This affair, MIR Secretary" re.
piled the President, "only deepens q
feeling that was growing on me
while We were still In Paris, ! felt
and have felt increasingly ever since
that you accepted my guidance and di,
rectlon on questions with regard Ia
which I had 60 instruct You with ih'
rrrasIng reluctance and since my re.
turn 20 Washington have been struck
by the number Of matters Ia which
You have apparently tried 10 fore.
stall my Judgment hy formulating uc.
ton aud merely seeking my ap.
proval when Il was impossible for me
~ form an independent Judgment be
cause / had not had an opportunity
To examine the circumstances with anl
degrce ~ Independence.
Il therefore. feel that ! must frank
" take advantage of your Kind sug
rc~fion that II I should prefer % hny,
another a. conduct cur foreign Affairs
you are vady 20 relieve me OF any
embarrassment by placing youf resie
nation la my hands
Mr. Lansing has been secretary o'
state since June - 1915. when hc sue
eeosled william Jennings Hrsau. Mr.
lansing would make no statement FL
anpIfaratiaa 80 hIs correspondence
IIc Intends 90 eTurn 30 New lork e.
engage u Hge rmeiiee of mp BEFORE
trenmirg SECRETARY of state. Mr. Ian
are was counselor af lhs state depart
utHt