The Washington times., 1920-02-14

frequently called the heads OF the
executive departments or the Gov
erpment into conference7 II IL is, i
feel A. my duty 90 call your at
t.ntion 10 considerations which
do not care 20 dwell upon until
learn from you yourself that this
is the fact. Under our constitu-
tionsl law and practice. as develop
ed hitherto, no one but the Presi-
dent has the right TO summon the
heads of the executive departments
into confe renee. and no one but the
President and the Congress has the
rIxht 10 ask their Views or the
views of any one OF them on any
public question.
take this matter UP with you
because in the development OF
every constitutional system, Gus
tom and precedent are OF the most
serious consequence and j think we
will all agree in desiring not to
lead in any wrong direction. 1
have, therefore. taken the liberty
OF writing you to ask you this
question, and i am sure you VIII
be glad to answer.
am happy to learn from your
recent note to Mrs. Wilson that
daily and sincerely youra
WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. Robert Lansing,
Secretary OF State.
. Lansing Oaers 10 Qsit.
washington, February 8, 1920.
Ny Dear Mr.. President:
II is true that frequently dur
ing your illness l requested the
heads OF the executive departments
OF the Government to meet for in
formal conference.
Shortly after you were taken Ill
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, il was wise for us to confer
informally together on interde-
partmental matters and matters as
to which action could not be post
poned until your medical advisers
permitted you to pass upon them.
Accordingly /. as the ranking
member. requested the members Of
the Cabinet to assemble for such in
formal conference: and in view of
the mutual benefit derived the prAc-
tice was continued. ] can assure
you that it never for a moment en-
tered my mind that i was acting
unconstitutionally or contrary to
your wishes, and there certainly
was no intention on my part to as
sumo powers and exercise functions
which under the Constitution are
exclusively conhded to the Presi-
dent.
During these troubIous times,
when many difficult and vexAtious
questions have arisen and when In
the circumstances I have been de-
prived of your guidance and direc-
ton, 1t has been my constant en-
deavor to carry out your policies
as / understand them, and to act In
all matters as I believed you would
wish me to act. If, however. you
think that I have failed in my 10y
atty to you. and IL you no longer
have confidence ip me and prefer to
Rave another conduct our foreign
affairs, I am, OF course. ready, Mr..
President. to relieve you OF any en-
arrassment by placing my resigns-
tion in your hands. am, as al
ways, faithfully yours,
ROBERT LANSING.
President Accepts Offer.
The White House. Washington.
February II, 1920.
Ny Dear Mr.. Secretary am
very much disappointed by your let
ter of February 0 in reply to mine
asking about the so-called Cabinet
meetings. You kindly explain the
motives of these meetings. and ]
find nothing in your letters which
justifies your assumption Of Presi-
Dental authority in such a matter.
You say that you felt that, in
view OF the fact that you were de-
MED communication with me, 1t was
wise to confer informally together
on interdepartmentel matters and
matters as to which action could
not be postponed until my medical
advisers permitted me to be seen
and consulted, but l have to remind
you. Mr.. Secretary, that no action
could be taken without me by the
Cabinet and, therefore, there could
have been no disadvantage in
awaiting action with regard to
matters concerning which action
could not have been taken without
me.
This affair, Mr.. Secretary. only
deepens a feling that was growing
upon me. While we were still in
Paris ] felt, and have felt increas-
ingly ever since, that you accepted
my guidance and direction on qucs-
tions 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
apparently have tried to forcstall
my judgment by formulating ac-
tion and merely asking my ap-
proval when IL was impossible for
me to form an independent judg-
ment because / had not had an op-
portunity to examine the circum-
stance with any degree of indc-
pendence.
Prefers Another Secretary.
!, therefore, feel that must
frankly take advantage Of your
kind suggestion that Il ! shoult
prefer to have another to conduct
our foreign affairs you are ready
to relieve me OF any embarrass.
mcnt by placing your resignation
in my hands. for l must say that
1t would relieve me of cmbarrass-
ment, Mr.. Secretary, the embar.
rassmcnt OF feeling your reluctance
and divergence of judgment. If you
would give your present office up