Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-02-21


l wish to thank you sincerely for
Jour candid letter of tho nth, la
which you state that my resignation
would DO acceptable to you, since II
relieves me OF the responsibility for
action which l have been contcmplat
ing and which l can now take with
out hesitation as II meets your wish
cS.
l have tho honor, therefore, to ten
der you my resignation as Secretary
Of State, the same to tako effect al
your convenience.
In thus scvering our official associ
alton l feel, Mr.. President. that
should lmake the following statement
which l had prepared recently and
which will show you that have not
been unmindful that tho continuance
Of our relations was impossible and
that realized that it was clearly my
duty to bring them to an end at the
earliest moment compatible with the
public interest:
Ever since January. 1919, I am con
scious of tho fact that you no longer
wore disposed to Welcome my advice
In matters pertaining to tho negotia
lions In Paris. to our foreign service
or to International affairs in general.
Holding these views I would. II
had consulted my personal inclinat
ion alone, hayo resigned as Secretary
OF State and as q commissioners TO
negotiate peace. I" felt, however, that
such a stop might have been misin
terpreted both } at homo and abroad
and that it was my duty to cause you
no embarrassment Ia carrying for.
ward tho great task in which you wers
then engaged. Possibly erred in
this. but IL did twas with tho
best OF motives. f' -.s@* -
tho latter part OF July, 1919 my per.
scna! wish to resign had not changed
but again I felt that loyalty to you
and my duty to the Administration
compelled me to defor action, as my
resignation might, have been miscoh
Atruei into hostility to tho ratlficat.
ion OF the treaty OF peace or at least
into uisnrr1oval Of your views as to
tho form Of ratification. I therefore
remained si'ti't, avoiding any COM
ment on the reports that VIC were not
in full accord.
Subsequently your serious Illness.
during which l have mover seen you
imposed upon me the duty-at least
construed it to be my duty-to re
main in charge Of the Department
Of State until your health permitted
you to assume again full direction OF
foreign affairs.
Believing that that time had ar
rived l had prepared my resignation
and my only doubt rs to the proprie
ty Of placing it in your hands was
removed by your letter indicating
that 1t would be entirely acceptable
to you.
think, Mr. President, after the
franl1ness that has marked this cor
rcspondence and for which l am crate
full to you, that l cannot permit to
pass unchallengcd the imputation
that in calling into informal confer
ence the heads of the executive de
partments ! sought to usurp your Pres
idontial authority. l had no such in
tcntion, no such thought. l believed
then and believe now that the con
fcrcnccs which were held were for
the best interests Of your administra
ton and OF the republic, and that be
lief was shared 10y others whom
consulted. l further believe that the
conferences we're proper and ncccs
sary in the circumstances and that
would have been dcrclict in my du
ty if | had failed to act rs | did.
| also feel, Mr.. President, that can
dor compels me to say that I can
not agree with Your statement that
l have tried to forcStall your juds
mcnt in certain cases by formulat
ing action and merely asking your
approval when it was impossible for
YOU to form an independent judg-
mcnt because you had not had IN
opportunity to examine the circmStan
COS with any degree of independence.
have, it is true, when | thought n
case demanded immediate action, al
viScd You what i'll my opinion, that
action should be, stating at the same
time the reasons on which my oDin-
ion was based. This | conceived to be
Il function Of the Secretary Of State
and | have followed the practice for
the past four years and Il half. | con
Tess that | have been surprised ana
disappointed at the frequent disap-
prevail of my suggestions, but l have
never failed to follow your decisions
however difficult it made the conduct
Of our foreign affairs.
I need hardly add that | leave the
Office of Secretary Of State with only
good will toward you, Mr.. President
and with Il sense of profound relief.
Forgetting our differences and re
Wondering only your many kindness
cs in the past, I have the honor to
b. Mr.. President. Sincerely yours,
ROBERT LANSING.
The President, the White House,
The White House.