Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-02-14

also"
1--WE all thought the meetings We're
good thing" said Secretary Lane who
retires Jas secretary Of the interior
March /. They were often attended
BY DR.. Grayson and messages were
transmitted to the president on ques-
tions discussed. The critical situation
precipitated by the coal strike canis
iup for consideration as well as mat
ters pertaining to the first Industrial
conference and other important ques.
tions. l feel that attended the meet
ings on a full level of responsibility
with Secretary Lansing inasmueh as
had agreed to the advisability Of their
being held. Other members OF the
cabinet apparently took the same posi-
tion."
Asked whether the question OF the
constiturionality Of the meetings ever
had been raised among the cabinet
members. Secretary Lane replied:
mo; not at all. The question was
never discussed in any way"
Washington, Feb. 14.-Rebuked by
President Wilson for calling cabinet
meetings during his illness, Secretary
Lansing has resigned.
The president has accepted the res
ignation with appreciation and Mr.
Lansing becomes the second secretary
LOT state to leave the administration
4loSer a disagreement with his chief.
Although the correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Lansing and the president
makes the calling Of the cabinet meet
ings the incident which lead directly
10 the secretary's resignation, persons
.on the inside" Of the administration
who know what has been going on
say that was only an incident and that
the real reasons for the break go back
over a period of many months and
come from fundamental differences or
opinion in policy.
Differences Old. -.
The disagreements between the
president and the head of the state
department even antedate the entry OF
1.-THE United States into the war. The
relations between the two men almost
reached the breaking point eaily In
.l1e17 when Mr.. lansing issued his cele-
brated statement saying the United
States was daily being drawn nearer
and nearer the war. BY some II was
taken to forecast the entry Of the Uni.
ted States. The president made every
effort to overtake the statement aftel
il had been given out at the state de-
Irartment but 1t was impossible.
When Mr.. Lansing went as a mem
Ter Of the American peace delegation
to Paris more differences developed
with other members Of the American
mission he was not in accord with thf
PRESIDENTS idea of making the treaty
of peace and the covenant OF tnf
league Of nations one and the same in
separable document. 1t was Mr.. Lans
lings idea that such plan would deia!
the ratification OF a peace treaty ant
lin this he was supported by Henr!
White and f. M. House.
Disagreed In Paris.
II may be said with great deal o
authority that while the president AM
Mr. Lansing were together In Fari
other differences OF more than mino
nature developed and this Is confirmed
by the reference which the pres!der
makes to It in one of his letters.
When President Wilson went bacl
TO Paris last March and found tina
during his brief absence In the United
states Mr.. Lansing and the others o.
the American mission had agreed, ten
tatiyely at least, to have the peace
terms and the league Of nations cove
lnant separated, the situation cam'
very near breaking point and prob.
ably was avoided only because the
president thought 1t was more import
ant not to let European statesmen see
a split in the American peace delega.
ton. While Mr. Lansing probably saw
and conferred with the president ir
Paris as much as any other members
OF the American mission. 1t was a mat
ter Of remark that he saw him very lit
tie.
However. the incident which cam'
nearer causing break than any other
was the sensational testimony of VIII
liam C. Bullitt, one Of the experts Mt
tached to the American peace mission
before the senate foreign relations con
mittee. Bullitt. as will be recalled