New Britain herald., 1920-02-14
MUTUAL 'EMBARRASS-
 NEWT WAS FELT BY
 BOTH MEN SINCE PEACE CONFERENCE; ? WILSON PRACTICAL LY DEMANDED SEC- RETARY'S ACTION.
The White House.


 iy called the heads of the executive departm ents or the government into conference? If it is so I feel it my duty to call your attention to considera- tions which I do not care to dwell upon until I learn from you yourself that this IS the fact. Under our constitu- uonal law and practice as developed hitherto no one but the president has the right to summon the heads of the executive departments into con- ference. and no one but the congress and the president has the right to ask their views or the views Of any .onc of them on public question. z l take this matter up with you be- cause in the development of every constitutional system, custom and pre- ycedcnt are Of the most serious con- sequence, and think we all agree in desiring in not leading in any wrong direction. I have therefore taken the liberty of writing you to ask you this question, and l am sure you will he ,tslad to answer.
 I am happy to learn from your re- cent note to Mrs Wilson that your strength is returning. Cordially and sincerely yours.
 5r WOODROW WILSON. Hon. Robert Lansing, Secretary of
 State.
 The Secretary or Stale. ..
 Washington. Eco ), 1920. Ny Dear MT. President
 It is true that frequently during your illness I requested the heads Of the executive departments of the gov- rnnlent to meet for informal con- ferencc. s t- Shortly after you were taken i'll in October certain members Of the cab met of which I was one, felt that in view of the fact that we were de- niedy communication With you if was , wise for us to confer informally to- gether on inter Experimental matters sand matters as to which action could not be postponed until your medical advisers permitted you to pass on them. Accordingly l. as the ranking Der, requested the mem bers of the cabinet to assemble for such in formal conference, and in view of the mutual benefit derived practice was ,. continued. can assure you that it never for a moment entered my mind that l was acting unconstitutionaily or contrary to your wishes, and there certainly was no intention on my part to assume powers and exercise func- 4tions which under the constitution are exclusively confided to the pres ident. MS During these troublous times when many difficult and vexatious questions have arisen and when in the circum- stances I have been deprived of your guidance and direction it has been mp constant endeaxor to carry out your policies as I understood them and to act in all matters as believed you would wish mo to act. If, how ever. you think that I have failed in my loyalty to you and If you no longer have confidence in me and prefer to have another conduct our foreign af- fairs am of ccurse ready. MT. Presi dent, to relieve you of any er barrass- srnent by placing my resignation in your hands I am, as always, faith fully yours, -.-.- ..s -
 -r ROBERT LANSING.
 The White House,
 Washington, II February, 1920. My Dear MT. Secretary:
 am very much disappointed by your letter of February in reply to mine asking about the so-calied cab met meetings. You kindly explain "a the motives of these meetings and I find nothing in your letter which jus tifies your sumption of presidential authority in such a matter. You say you felt that, in view of the fact that you were denied communication with me. 1t was wise to, confer in- formally together on inter-depart- mental matters and matters as to which action could not be postponed until nay medical advisers permitted me" to be seen and consulted, but I have to remind you MT. Secretary, that no action could be taken with out me by the cabinet, and therefore there could have been no diSadvan- taee in awaiting action with regard to matters concerning which action could not have been taken without me.
 This affair, MT. Secretary, only deepens feeling that was growing upon me. While we were still in Paris felt, and have felt increasing ly since, that you accepted my guid- anoe and direction on questions with regard to which I had to instruct you only with increasing reluctance. and since my return to Washington I have been struck by the number of matters in which you have apparent ly tried to forestaH my judgment by formulating action, and merely ask ing my approval when it was impos- sible for me to form an independent Judgment because I had not had an opportunity to examine the circum- stances with any degres Of independ- ence.
 I therefore feel that 1 must frankly take advantase of your kind sugges- ton that 'f1 l should prefer to have another to conduct our foreign affairs you are ready to relieve me Of any x am la rI.a ssrr1 ant by placing your Tesig-