Evening journal., 1920-02-14

IdHcluk WAS AppoWltu -iuittdi
state succeeding Secretary Bryan. II
was appointed June 81, 1915. Bcior
then Lansing was counsellor OF tn
state Department.
Lansing was appointed because q
his knowledge Of international law, hi
appointment being made at the tim
or the submarine controversy betwee
this country and Germany.
Lansing is a native Of Naierto~n, \
y he Is 50 years old.
Presidents First Letter
The White House, Washington,
February. 1920
My Dear Mr.. secraiary--ls it ttno
as | have been told that during my
illness you have frequently calle1
the heads Of the executive dcparl-
menis Of the government MO con
ference2 II II Is, feel it my duty
10 call your attention TO considera-
lions which I do not ears 20 dwell
upon until I learn from YOU YOUR
self that This is the fact. lnder
our constitutional law and practice,
as developed hitherto, no Que hut
The President has The righs-i0 SUM
mon the heads Of the executive dc
partments into confe-eUc', lnd no
one but The President anu The
Congress has The right 90 ask their
views or the views Of any ono OF
them on any public question
take this matter mp with 2on
because in The development OF every
constitutional system, custom ana
precedent are y The most serious
Consequence, and J think we VIII
all agree IN desiring not TO lead IN
any wrong direction. have there
fore taken the liberty Of writing
YOU TO ASH you this question, and
am sure you viii be glad TO an-
swer.
am happy to learn from your
recent nole 10 Mrs. Wilson that
your strength Is returning.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
(slgned) WOODROW WILSON
Hon Robert Lansing, secretary Of
state
Answer Of Lansing.
The Secretary of state, Washing
ton. February ?, 1920
My Dear Mr. prcsldent-lt Is true
that frequently during your Illness
] requested the heads of the exec
aliee departments Of the govern
laentsio .meet for informal confer
quce.
shortly after you were taken III
IN October certain members Of The
Cabinet OF which ! was one felt
that. IN view OF the fact that we
were denied communication with
you. 10 was wise for us To confer
informally together on inier-depart-
mental affairs and matters as to
which action could not be poslpon-
ed until your medical advisers per-
mli'ed you 10 pass upon lhum Ac-
c0rdingly. 7, as the ranking member.
requested The members Of the Csb- 4
met 10 assemble fof such informal
conference, end IN view OF ipe
mutual benent derived The prac-
tice was continued ] can assure 4
you that 10 never for a moment,
entered my mind that 7 wss acting
unconstiiuiionally or contrary TO
your wishes. and there certainly
was no intention on my part 10
assume powers and exercise func-
ti0ns which. under The cOnstiluu-
lion. are exclusively confded 10 the
President.
During these troublous times.
Nlien many diilcult and vexatlous
questions have arisen and when. in
ihe circumstances. ] liRyo been de-
prlted OF your guidance and direc-
tion, u has been my constant en-
deavor 20 carry out your policies as
as understood them and 10 act 10
al matters as u believed you would
wish me 10 act. IT, however, YOU
think that have failed IN my 10y
atty 10 you and II you no longer
have confidence In me and prefer
20 have another conduct our for
eien affairs. ] am. or course, ready
Mr.. President. to relieve you OF
any embarrassment by placing my
resignation In your hands.
am as always, faithfully yours.
iSlgnedl ROBERT LANSING.
Presidents second Letter.
The White House. Washington, n
February. 1920.
My dear Secretary: ! am very
much disappointed by your letter
OF February 2 In reply 70 mine ask
ing about the so-called Cabinet.
meetings; you kindly explain the
motives OF these meetings and
And nothing in your letter which
justifles your assumption Of presi-
Dental authority IN such a matter.
You say YOU felt that. In view OF
the fact that you wora denied COM
munication with me. q was wise To
confer informally together on in
ter-departmenial matters and mat
ters as to which action could not
be postponed until my medical ad-
Yisers permitted me" 70 be seen
and consulted, but have 10 remind
you. Mr. Secretary, that no action
could be taken without me by the
Cabinet and therefore there could
have been no disadvantage in await
ms action with regard % matters
concerning which action could not J
have been taken without me
This AFFAIR, Mr. Secretary. only
deepens. feeling that was aow-
ms upon me. While we were stin
In Paris. I felt. and have felt in
cressine'y ever since. that you ac-
cepted my guidance and direction
on questions with regard to when
had 10 instruct you only with in
creasing reluctance, and since my
return 20 Washington / have been
struck by the number Of matters In
which you have apparently tried
10 forestal my judgment bv for
mulst'ng action and merely asking
my approval when IL was impossl-
bic for me TO form an independent
JUDGMENT because I had not an op-
portunity n examine the circunl-
stances with any degree OF inde-