South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-14

ci.- 4 UNDERSTOOD tnen ana 10 act ia
all matters as I believed you would
wish me 10 act II. however. you
think that l have failed in my loyal
IS 90 you and If you no longer
have confidence in me and prefer TO
have another conduct our foreign al
fairs. I am OF course ready. MIR.
President. TO relieve you OF any en-
barrassment by placing my resigna.
ton in your hands
7 am as always,
Faithfully yours.
ROBERT LANSING"
Tho white house, Washington,
Feb. II 1920.
My Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Il am very much disappointed BY
your letter OF Feb. eth. in reply 10
mine asking about the so-called
cabinet meetings. You kindly ex-
plain the motives Of these meetings
and / find nothing in your letter
which justifies your assumption of
presidential authority in such a mat
ter. You say YOU felt that, in view
Of the fact that you were denied
cOmTnuEicat ton with me il was wise
TO confer informally together on in
departmental matters and mat
ters as 10 which action could not be
postponed until my medical advisers
permitted me TO be seen and con-
suited, but / have TO remind you.
Mr.. Secretary, that no action could
be taken without me uy the cabinet.
and therefore there could have been
no disadvantage in awaiting action
with regard TO matters concerning
which action could not have been
taken without me.
Dates Back TO Paris.
This affair, Mir. Secretary, only
leepenS 4 feeling that WAS growing
upon me. While we were stiil in
Paris, 1 felt and have felt increas-
ingly ever since, that YOU accepted
my gCidance ana direction on ques-
tons with regard to which ] had TO
instruct you only with increasing re-
luctance and since my return TO
Washington, 1 have been struck by
the number OF matters in which you
have apparently tried TO fOrestall my
Judgment by formulating action and
was impossible for me 10 form an in
dependent judgment because / had
not mad an opportunity 10 examine
the circumstances with any degree
&C independence.
II therefore feel that must
frankly take advantage of your kind
suggestion that if l should prefer to
have another to conduct our foreign
affairs you arc ready TO relieve me
of any embarrassment by placing
your resignation in my hands, for /
must say that it would relieve me of
embarrassment, Mr.. Secretary, the
! EN- Embarrassment of feeling your re-
| luctancC and divergence of judgment,
if you would give your present office
up and afford me an opportunity to
! select some one whose mind would
more willingly go along with mine.
Il need not tell you with what re-
| luctarce 1 take advantage of your
/ suggestion or that 1 do so with the
| kiudliest feeling. In matters cI
! transcendent importance like this
the only wise course is a course OF
perfect candor. where personal feel
Ing is as much as possible left out OF
| the reckoning.
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed)
| WOODROW WILSON"
Hon. Robert Lansing, secretary
! OF state.
The secretary of state, Washing
ton, Feb. y. 1920.
| Ny Dear Mr.. President:
| wish TO thank you sincerely for
| your candid letter of the 18th, in
which you state that my resignation
would be acceptable to you, since il
| relieves me of the resi- onsibility for
action which | have been contem-
| plating and which 1 can now take
without hesitation. as it meets with
! your wishes.
Tenders Resignation.
have the honor therefore, tC
tender you my resignation as sec
rotary of state. the same TO take eff
| feet at your convenience.
In thus severing our official asso-
citation. 1 feel. Mr.. President. that
/ / should make the following state
| ment which 1 had prepared recently
/ and which Will show you that 1 have
not been unmindful that the con
| tinuance of our present relation:
was impossible and that | realized
| that IL was clearly my duty TO brina
/ them TO an end at earliest possible
moment compatible with the public
! interest.
Ever since January. 1919, / haN'
been conscious of the fact that yot
no longer were disposed to welcom'
my advice in matters pertaining q
! the negotiations in Paris. to our for
eign service, or to international af
fairs in general. Holding this view.
| would, If 1 had consulted my per
sonal inclination alone, have resign
| ed as secretary of state and as &
| commissioner 10 negotiate peace.
! felt, however. that such a step nigh
have been misinterpreted both a
home and abroad. and that it wa
M duty 10 cause YOU no embar
| rassment in carrying forward tn
great task in which you then wer'
| engaged. Possibly I erred in this
but II 1 did it was with the best o
motives.
When I returned 10 Washington
the latter part of July. 1919, m.
personal wish 20 resign had no
! changed. but again I felt that 10y