Evening journal., 1920-02-14

,Slgnedl WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. Robert Lansing. Secretary Of
state.
Reply of Lansing.
The Secretary Of State. Washing
ton. February ~. 1920.
My dear Mr.. President wish 10
thank you sincerely for your candid
letter of the iith In which you state
that my resignation would be ao-
ceptable TO you since II relieves me
Of the responsibility for action
which have been contemplating and
which | can now take without hosl
tati0n, as II meets your wishes.
have the honor, therefore. 10
tender you my resignation ms Sec
rotary OF state, the same 10 lake
effect at your convenience.
IN thus severing our official as
sOciati0n, ] feel. Mr. President, that
/ should make The following state
ment which I had prepared recently
and which will show you that 7
have not been unmlndful that the
continuance OF our present rela-
ti0ns was impossible, and that ]
realized that il was clearly my duty
Go bring them 10 an end al the
earliest moment compatible with
The public interest.
Ever since January, 1919, have
been conscious OF the fact that you
no longer were disposed 10 welcome
my advice in matters pertaining 20
negotiations IN Paris, 10 our for
eign scryive. or to International az
fairs IN general. Holding these
views, ! would, n I had consulted
my personal inclination alone, have
resigned as Secretary OF State and
as commissioner TO negotiate
peace. I felt, however, that such O
step might have been mlsinterpret-
ed, both at home and abroad and that
10 was my duty 60 cause you no
embarrassment In carrying for
ward the great task in which you
were then engaged. Possibly l
erred in this, but n / did II was
with the best of motives.
When ! returned % Washington
IN the latter part Of July, 1919. my
personal wish to resign had not
changed but again I felt that loy-
atty 10 YOU and my duty 90 tho
administration compelled me to de-
fer action as my resignation might
have been mlscOnstrued into hos
tility 10 the ratification Of the treaty
of peace or at least into dsapproVal
Of your views as 10 the form Of
ratiilcalien therefore, remain
silent avoiding any comment on
The frequent reports that we were
not in fun agreement. Subsequent
" your serious illness, during
which ! have never seen you, i'm
posed upon me the duiy-at least /
construed u TO be my duty--to re-
main in charge Of the Department Of
state until your health permitted
you TO assume again fun direction
Of foreign affairs
Believing that that time had ar
rived, had prepared my resiena-
ton. when my only doubt as 10
The pr0pricty Of placing 10 In your
hands was removed by your letter
indicating that 10 would bo entirely
acceptable TO you.
/ think, MIR President. in accord
anoe with the frankness. which has
marked this correspondence and for
which ! am grateful 20 you, that !
cannot permit 10 pass unchallenged
The imputation that IN calling into
Informal conference the heads OF
Tie executive departments. ! sought
% usurp your presidential author
lily. I had no such intention, no
such thought. ! believed then and
] believe now that The conferences
which were held were for the best
interests Of your administration and
OF the republic. and that belief was
shared by others whom consulted. /
J further believe that the confer
ences were proper and necessary in |
The circumstances and that ! would
have been derelecb 10 my duty II
] had failed TO act as ! did
also feel. Mr.. President, that
cand0r compels me TO say that !
cannot agree with your statement
that ! have tried TO forestall your
Judgment in certain cases by formu-
atng action and merely asking your
when 70 was impossible
for you 10 form an independent
Judgment because you had not had
an opportunity 20 examine the cir
with any degree OF in
| have. IL is true.
when / thought a case demanded
immediate action, advised you what.
In my opinion, that action should
be. stating at the samo time the
reasons on which my opinion was
based. This I conceived to be a
OF The Secretary OF state
and I have followed the practice
for the past four years and a half.
confess that have been surprised
and disappointed at the frequent dis
approval Of my suggestions, but ]
have never failed TO follow your
however dllloult 70 made
the conduct OF our foreign affairs.
] need hardly add that leave the
oflce OF Secretary Of State with
only good will toward you, Mr..
President. and with a sense OF pro-
found relief.
Forgetting our differences and re-
only your many kind
nesses in the past, have the honor
10 be. Mr.. President.
Sincerely yours,
tsisned) ROBERT LANSING.
The President.
ilson Accepts Resignation.
The White House, Washington, 10
February. 1920.
Ny Dear Mr.. Secretary.
Allow me 70 scknowledge with
apreclation your letter Of February
p. Itnow being evident, Mr.. Score J.,
larry, that we have both OF us felt h
he embarrassment OF our recent re-
atons with each other, ! feel Il
ny duty 70 accept your resignation,
10 take effect at once. at the same
lime adding that I hope that the
'uture holds for you many successes