Evening star., 1920-02-18
ROBERT LANSING
MAN OF INFLUENCE
IN CABINET OFFICE
His Departure Will Produce
Uncertainty in Country's
Foreign Service.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Robert Lansing was popular as Sec
retary of State. Diplomats recognized
the awkwardness of his position, par
ticularly his inability often to speak
for the President, because the latter
would not take him into his conf
dence, but they made allowances for
this and liked Mr.. Lansing for such
fraakness as he Was able to display.
He was courteous with foreign gov
ernments. and although ne differed
again and again with the President as
to the wisest policy to pursue, he
never showed it to a foreign govern
ment.
Whenever the President decided a
question, that was enough for Robert
Lansing. Like an ambassador in a
foreign country, he followed instruc-
tions faithfully. Nevertheless. it must
not be imagined that Robert Lansing
has not exerted a very great influence
on our foreign policy in the last four
years.
Record as Counselor.
Even before he took Office he
framed the neutrality policy of the
government as counselor of the De-
partment of State and is generally
credited with having been the author
OF the phrase "a strict accountability"
which was used in one of the first
Lusltania notes. He wrote many
drafts of notes that never saw the
Presidents eye and he wrote many
that were pigeonholed by the Presi-
dent. But, like a true counselor. he
was always ready with a comprehen-
siye statement of the alternatives in
volved. Usually he gave the presi
dent the various courses of action
which could be followed. and, while
thought best, invariably left it to the
President to choose. But Robert
Lansing knew traditional American
doctrine and he also put in every
note he wrote a certain Liberalism
and altruism that so many people
would promptly say was Wilsonian.
Even on the notes for which the
President received the highest praise
you couldn't get a word out of Robert
Lansing as to the part he played.
remember particularly one Of the best
notes ever sent out by the United
states governments, communication
to the Austro-Hungarian government
about the requested embargo on
arms. Solicitor Woolsey and Secre-
tary Lansing framed that note and
the editorial praise which the Presi-
dent received for doing what he didn't
the men in the Department of State,
who took it as a matter Of course.
Pan-American Relations.
Mr.. Lansing will always be remem-
bered for hfs clear definition of pan
Americanism and for his splendid con-
ception of what our relationships
should be with the nations south of
us. 1t is true that he didn't favor the
coupling of the league of nations with
the peace treaty, simply because he
thought better consideration could be
given to each separately.
But he didn't press his views. and
when the American mission got to
Paris he worked as hard as anybody
to help realize the ideal which the
President had set before the peace
conference. He wrote a plan for
league of nations and submitted it
along with the rest, but showed no
signs of displeasure when it was not
approved, nor was he peeved at the
frequent prominence bestowed upon
Col House. He took the Presidents
idiosyncrasies for what they were
worth and. like faithful servant. did
all he could to keep relations har-
monious.
But the President, instead of ap-
preciating the self-sacrifice of his
got he had one. He gave SO much
time to Col. House and placed SO
much confidence in the man from
Texas that it was subject of public
comment on every side. Yet Mr.. Lam
sing hid his pride and did his work.
1t was when the Shantung settle
ment came up, and when the Presi-
dent became involved in the meshes
Of European diplomacy. that Mr.. Lam
sing expressed dissenting views on
/Copt;nuad on pape Column 4)