Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-14

Lansing has resigned.
The President accepted the resig-
nation with appreciation" and Mr..
Lansing becomes the second secretary
of state to leave the administration
over disagreement with his chief.
Although correspondence between
Mr. Lansing and the President
makes the calling of cabinet meetings
| the incident which leads directly to
/ the secretary's resignation, persons ION
| the inside of the administration who
| know what has been going on say
| that was only an incident and that
the real reason for the break go back
over a period of many months and
cover fundamental differences in pol
| icy.
The disagreement between the
| President and the state department
even antedate the entry of the United
States into the war, the relations be-
tween the two men almost reaching
breaking point early in 1917. when Mr..
Lansing issued his celebrated state
| ment saying the United States was
daily being drawn nearer and nearer
into the war.
The President made every effort to
overtale this statement after it had
been given out at the state department
but 1t was impossible.
w iiCIi NIL I|1hSillB " IlIt d lJiCifi-
Der of the American delegation to
Paris, more differences developed.
With other members of the American
Mission he was not in accord with
the Presidents idea of making the
treaty of peace and covenant of the
league of nations one document.
1t was Mr.. Lansing's idea that such
a plan would delay the ratification of
a peace treaty and in this he was sup
ported by Henry White and E. M.
House.
When President Wilson went back
to Paris last March and found that
during his brief absence in the Uni
ted States Mr.. Lansing and others
of the American Mission had agreed
tentatively at least, to have the
peace terms and the league of ma
tions covenant, separated, the situ-
alton came near a breaking point
However. the incident which came
nearer causing a break than any
other was the sensational testimony
of William Built, one of the ex-
perts attached to the American peace
commission before the senate foreign
relations committee. Built, 1t will
be recalled reading from diary.
quoted Secretary Lansing as having
told him he was out of sympathy
with the League of Nations coven-
ant, and as predicting that the treaty
would fail If the American people
ever learns of its full import.
Mr.. Lansing, obviously, in a very
difficult position did not repudiate
Bullit's statement, although it was
momentarily expected that he would
either repudiate them or resign.
President Wilson was at the time
on his speaking tour in the west
To say that he was upset by Bullit's
story puts It mildly. Officials in the
Presidential party expected to see
the secretary's resignation asked for
on the Presidents return to Wash
ington. These same officials believe
now the breakdown which sent the
President home very sick man was
the only thing that prevented 1t.
Mr.. Lansing, however, never saw
the President again and did all his
business with the chief executive In
writing. The relations between the
men remained very much strained,
and then Mr.. Lansing's action in
calling the cabinet together brought
them to the breaking point.
Those VINO We're present at the first
cabinet meeting describe rather
tense and dramatic scene. Congress
was full of iumors that the President
was SO disabled as to be constitution
ally unable to discharge the functions
of his Office.
No one knew the full extent of the
Presidents illness. 1t had not become
known that he had partially lost the
use of his left arm and leg due to an
accumulation of blood in one of the
arteries of his brain. There were even
ugly rumors that the President might
not be in possession of all his facul-
ties.
Some Senators we're even contem-
plating action Ito find out whether we
have q President or not" as one OF
them put 1t. These ugly stories, were
of course, disposed of and shown to
be pure and unfounded gossip or the
later developments, but they were be-
ing circulated and widely credited
last November, when the cabinet as
sembled for conference at call
of Lansing.
The secretary of state, 1t should be
stated, believed he was supported by
precedents in calling the cabinet to-
gether. He found It had been done
when President Garfield, laid Ill for
weeks after having been shot by an
assassin.
The Wilson cabinet assembled the
first day with q feeling of apprehen-
sion. Secretary Tumulty Informed
the President that Mr.. Lansing had
called the cabinet together and the
President, somewhat disturbed, gave
his personal physician message to
deliver to the secretary.
The secretaries assembled at their
usual places that day and Mr.. Ian
sing sent for DIR. Graysyon. The Presi-
dents chair at the head of the table
was left vacant until the physician
arrived and he was asked to occupy lt.
"Dr. Grayson," Secretary Lansing is
reported to have said, 1--WE wish TO
know the nature and extent of the
Presidents illness and whether he IS
able to perform the duties of his of
fee so that we may determine What
shall be done to carry on the business
of the government"
The physician is quoted by some or
the other secretaries as having re-
piled in substance:
'"The President is doing as well as
could be expected. He Is In full poss-
esson of all his faculties and he has
directed me to inquire of you by what
authority this meeting of the cabinet
was called; what business Is before IL
and what business 1t Is expected might
be transacted at the cabinet meetings
without his participation.
According to the story told Secre-
tary Lansing had not opportunity TO
reply because some of the other
members stepped into the breach and
asked DIR. Grayson to say to the PreSl-
dent that the only purpose of the