El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-14

wise course is a course OF perfect
candor, where personal feeling is as
much as possible left out Of the reek-
Very sincerely yours,
woodrow Wilson
Hon Robert Lansing, secretary Of
Had Intended to Resign.
Washington. Feb. u, 1870
Ny dear Ar. President:
] wish 10 thank you sincerely FOR
which you stated that my resignation
would be acceptable TO you. since II
relieves me OF the responsibility Tor
action which ] have been contemplate
Ing and which ] can now take without
hesitation as Il meets your wishes
/ have the honor, therefore, 10 ten
you my rteiignation as secretary OF
state, the same TO take effect at your
convenience
In thus severine our official asso-
citation. ] feel, Mr. President, that /
should make the following statement
which 1 had prepared recently and
which VIII show you that have not
been unmindtul that the continuance
Of our present relations was impossi-
bic and that I realized that IL was
clearly my duty to bring them 70 an
end at the earliest moment compati-
bic with the public interest,
Ever since January, 1913, I have
been conscious Of the fact that you
no longer were disposed TO welcome
my advice IN matters pertaining 70
the negotiations in Paris, TO our for
fairs IN general Holding these views
would, If I had consulted my per
sonal inclination alone, have resi- Emed
as secretary and as a commissioner
to negotiate peace I felt however,
that such a step might have been
misinterpreted both at home and
abroad, and that IL was my duty TO
cause you no embarrassment in car
HHraH rHH In HHH
you were then engaged. Possibly I
erred in this, but II ] did. II was with
the best motives.
When 1 returned TO washington IN.
the latter part OF July. 1919, my per-
sOnal wish to resign had not changed.
but again felt that loyalty to you
and my duty 10 the administration
compelled me TO defer action, as my
resignation might have been miscon-
strueu into hostility TO the ratitica-
ton Of the treaty Of peace or at least
into disapprOval OF your views as TO
the form OF ratification. / therefore
remained silent, avoiding any COM
ment on frequent reports that We
were not in full agreement Suisse
Quenly your serious illness, during
which have never seen you i'm
posed upon me the duty-at least I
construed it 10 be my duty-to re-
main in charge OF the department Of
state until your health permitted you
TO assume again fun direction OF
foreign affairs
Challenges ImpufatiOn. ~
Believing that that time had ar
rived I had prepared my resignation
when my only doubt as to the pro-
priety OF placing - in your hands
was removed by your letter indicating
that 1t would be entirely acceptable
70 you
I think, 8lr. President, IN accord
ance with the frankness which has
marked this correspondence and for
HHaH1 anHa Il HnHn e. y
cannot permit 70 pass uncnalenEed
the imputation that in calling into
informal conference the heads OF the
executive departments / sought 10
usurp your presidential authority. /
had no such intention, no such
thought I believe then and / believe
now that the conferences were hald
for the best interests OF your adm MS
tration and OF the public and that
belief was shared by others whom I
consulted I further believe that the
conferences were proper and neces-
sary in the circumstances and that I
would have been derehct in my duty
II had failed 20 act as ] did.
also feel. Mr.. President, that can
dor compels me to say that ] can not
agree with your statement that have
tried 70 forest1al your judgment IN
and merely asking your approval
when 1t was impossible for you 70
form an Independent judgment be-
cause you had not had an opportunity
10 examine the circumstances with
any degree Of independence
I have, II is true, when / thought
case demanded immediate action.
ADVISED you what In my opinion. that
action should be, stating at the same
time the reasons on which my opinion
was based This / conceived to be a
function OF the secretary OF state and
I have followed the practice for the
past four years and half. I confess
appointed at the frequent dtsapproVal
OF my suggestions, but have never
failed TO follow your decisions, how
ever difficult % made the conduct Of
our foreign affairs
I need hardly add that I leave the
office Of secretary Of state with only
good viii toward you, Mr. President,
and with a sense OF profound relief.
Forgetting our differences and re-
Wondering only your many kind
nesses in the past I have the honor 10
be, Mr.. President. sincerely yours,
(Sigued) Robert Lansing.
The president. the White House.
Wilson Accepts Resignation
The White House.
Washington. 18Th Feb. 1920.
Ny Dear Secretary:
Allow me 70 acknowledge with ap-
probation your letter OF Feb. r. II
now being evident, Mr.. Secretary, that
we have both OF US felt the embar-
rassment Of our recent relations with
each other I feel IL my duty to &C
cept your resi- EnatiOn, 70 take effect
at once, at the same time adding that
hope that the future holds for you
many successes Of the most gratifying
sort Ny best wishes viii always
follow you, and q viii be a matter Of
Qualification 20 me always, to remem-
Der our delightful personal relations.
Sincerely yours,
fSlgnedl Woodrow Wilson
Honorable Robert lansing, secre-
tary OF state
n ~