Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-02-25

successor.
The state department on Friday
night issued a formal statement an
nouncing the resignation of Secretary
Lansing and giving the correspondence
which passed between the president
and his chief aid leading up to the
breaking of relations.
The correspondence follows:
Wilson to Lansing.
1.-The White House, Feb. z.
my dear Mr. Secretary: Is it true,
as l have been told, that during my ill
ness you have frequently called the
heads of the executive departments of
the government into conference? II
it is / feel it my duty to call your at
tention to considerations which ! do
not care to dwell upon until | learn
from yourself that this is the fact.
Under our constitutional law and prac-
tice, as developed hitherto, no one but
the president has the right to summon
the heads of the executive depart
ments into conference, and no one but
the president and the congress has the
right TO ask their views or the views
of any one of them on any public ques-
ton.
II take this matter up with you be-
cause in the development of every con-
stitutional system custom and prece-
dent are of the most serious conse-
quence, and / think we will all agree
In desiring not to lead in any wrong
direction. / have therefore taken the
liberty of writing to ask you this
question.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON"
Lansing to Wilson
1.-THE Secretary of State, Washington,
Feb 9.
"My Dear Mr. President: 1t is true
that frequently during your illness l
requested the heads of the executive
departments of the government to meet
for informal conference.
Shortly after you were taken i'll in
October certain members of the cab
met, of which l was one, felt that. in
view of the fact that we were denied
communication with you, it was wise
for US to confer informally together on
interdepartmental matters and matters
as to which action could not be post
pOned until your medical advisers per-
mitted you to pass upon them.
Accordingly l, as the ranking mem
Der, requested the members of the cab
met to assemble for such informal con-
ference, and in view of the mutual ben
eft derived the practice was continued.
81 can assure you that it never for
a moment entered my mind that ! was
acting unconstitutionally or contrary to
your wishes, and there certainly was
no intention on my part to assume
powers and exercise functions which
under the constitution are exclusively
confided to the president
During these troublous times. when
many difficult and vexatious questions
have arisen and when in the circum-
stances | have been deprived of your
guidance and direction it has been nv
constant endeavor to carry out your
policies as l understood them and to
act in all matters as l believed you
would wish me to act. If, however, you
think that l have failed in my loyalty
TO you and if you no longer have conf
dence in me and prefer to have another
conduct our foreign affairs, / am. of
course. ready, Mr.. President, to relieve
you of any embarrassment by placing
my resignation in your hands.
81 am, as always faithfully yours.
ROBERT LANSING"
Wilson to Lansing:
THE White House, Feb. IL, 1920.
MY Dear Mr.. Secretary: l am very
much disappointed by your letter of
Feb. 8 in reply to mine asking about