The Washington times., 1920-02-14
Correspond nee BetWesn
Wilson and Lansing

tary OF state. the same to take ef-
feet at your convenience.
In thus severing our official as
ISOLATION / feel, Mr.. President. that
l should make the following state
msnt which ! had prepared recent
ly and which will show you thai
have not been unmindful that the
continuance OF our presence relG-
was impossible and that real
iEed that Il was clearly my duty 20
bring them to an end at the earliest
moment compatible with the pun
lie interest.
Ever since January. 1919, have
been conscious OF the fact that you
no longer were disposed to welcome
my advice in matters pertaining TO
the negotiations In Paris, to our
foreign service. or to international
affairs In general Holding these
views, | would. II I had consulted
my personal inclination alone, have
resigned as Secretary or State and
as "A comm issioner to negotiate
peace. felt. however. that such
step might have been misinter-
preted both at home and abroad,
and that IL was my duty to cause
you no Embarrassment In carrying
forward the great task In which you
were then engaged. Possibly
erred in this. but II did. IL was
with the best OF motives.
Deferred by Loyalty.
When returned to Washington
In the latter part OF July. 1919, my
personal wish to resign had not
changed, but again I felt that 10y
atty to you and my duty to the Ad-
ministration compelled me to defer
action, as my resignation might
have been misconstrued into hos
tility to the ratification OF the
treaty of peace or at least into dis
approval OF your views as to the
form OF ratification. therefore
remained silent, avoiding any COM
ment on the frequent reports that
We were not in full agreement. Sub
sequently your serious illness, dur
ing which j have never seen you,
imposed upon me the duty-At least
l construed II to be my duty-to-
remain In charge of the Depart
ment OF State until your health per-
mitted you to assume again full di-
rection of foreign Affairs.
Believing that that time had ar
rived. ] had prepared my resiEna-
tion, when my only doubts as to the
propriety of placing IL in youi
hands was removed by your letter
indicating that II would be entirely
acceptable to you.
think, Mr.. President, in ac-
cordance with the frankness which
has marked this correspondence
and for which I am grateful to you,
that I cannot permit to pass un-
challenged the imputation that in
calling into formal conference the
heads of the executive departments
] sought to usurp your Presiden-
tial authority. had no such inten
ton. no such thought. ! believed
then aHd / believe now that the
conferences which were held were
for the best interests OF your Ad-
ministration and OF the republic.
and that belief was shared by 9TH
ers whom consulted. further be-
lieve that the conferences were
proper and necessary in the circum-
stances. and that ! would have
been derelict in my duty IL had
failed to act as did.
Denies Forestanias Judgment.
also feel, Mr.. President, that
candor compels me to say that I
cannot agree with your statement
that I have tried to forestall your
IN CcflAln cases Dy IOFHlu-
lating action AID merely asking
your approval when ii was impos-
sible for you to form an independ.
ent judgment because you had not
had-an opportunity to examine the
circumstances with any degree OF
independence. have, II is true.
when I thought a case demanded
immediate action, advised you what.
in tnt Oh
be. stating at the same time the
reasons on which my opinion was
based. This / conceived to be
function of the Secretary of State
and I have followed the practice
for the last four years and a half
I confess that | have been sur
prised and disappointed at the fire.
frequent disapproval of my sugges-
tions, but have never failed to fol-
your decisions. however difficult II
made the conduct of our foreign af-
fairs.
need hardly add that ! leave
the office of Secretary of State with
only good will toward you, Mr..
President. and with a sense of pro-
found relief.
Forgetting our differences and
remembering only your many kind
nesses in the past, ! have the honor
to be, Mr.. President sincerely
yours,
ROBERT LANSING.
The President, the White House.
Resignation Accepted.
The White House,
Washington, Feb. 13, 1870.
NY Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Allow me to acknowledge with
appreciation your letter OF Febru-
ary 12. 1t now being evident. Mr..
Secretary, that We have both OF us
felt the embarrassment OF our re-
cent relations with each other,
feel 1t my duty to accept your resig-
nation. to take effect at once: at
the same time adding that | hope
that the future holds for you many
successes of tho most gratifying
sort. My best wishes will always
follow you, and IL will be n matter
OF qualification to me always TO
remember our delightful personal
reIot tiopS SipCcrely vnure