Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-14


Associated Press) .-Rebuked by
President Wilson for calling cabinet
meetings during his illness, Secre-
tary Lansing has resigned.
The president has accepted the
resignation with appreciation and
Mr. Lansing becomes the second
secretary of state to leave the ad-
mInistration over disagreement
with his chief.
Although the correspondence be-
tween MIR. Lansing and the presi-
dent makes the calling OF the cab
met 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
vas only an incident and that the
real reasons for the break go back
over a period of many months and
come from fundamental differences
Of opinion in policy.
The disAgreements between the
president and the head of the state
department even antedate the entry
Of the United States into the war.
The relations between the two men
almost reached the breaking point
early in 1917. when Mr.. Lansing is
sued his celebrated statement say
ing the United States was daily be-
ing drawn nearer and nearer the
war. BY some, it was taken to
forecast the entry of the United
States. The president made every
effort to overtake the statement
after 1t had been given out at the
state department, but 1t was i'm
possible.
Differ ut Paris.
When Mr.. Lansing went as a
member of the American peace del-
egation 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 the
covenant OF the League of Nations
one and the same inseparable docu-
ment, 1t was Mr.. Lansing's idea
that such a plan would delay the
ntiication Of peace treaty and in
mis- he was supported by Henry
White and Z. M. House.
1t may be said with a great de-
gree of authority that while the
president and Mr.. Lansing were to-
sether in Paris other differences Of
more than minor nature developed
and this is confirmed by the refer
ence which the president makes to
u in one of his letters.
:. When President Wilson went
back to Paris last March and found
mat during his brief absence in the
United States, Mr.. Lansing and the
others OF the American mission had
agreed, tentatively, at least, to
nave the peace terms and the
League Of Nations covenant sepa-
rated, the situation came very near
breaking point and probably was
avoided only because the president
,noasht 1t more important not to
'iet European statesmen see q split
in the American peace delegation.
while Mr.. Lansing probably saw
ana conferred with the president in
ans as much as any other MEM
oer OF the American mission it was
: matter Of remark that he saw
him very little. &
Built Story the Climax.
However. the incident which
came nearer causing a break than
any other was the sensational tes-
.mony Of William C. Built. one OF
'ne experts attached to the Ameri-
"a peace mission. before the sen
@ foreign relations committee.
neint. reading from q diary, quot
y Secretary Lansing as having
@.a him he was ont Of sympathy
skn the League OF Nations cove
- and as predicting that the
ty would fail II the American
pleple ever learned Of its full i'm.
Ar. Lansing. obviously in q very
sIacut position. did not repudiatt
siiit's statements, although |,
~ momentarily expected In Wash
gton that he would either repudi.
- them or resign his ofice. Pres
lat Wilson was At the time on hi:
eaking tour In the west. To say
elet he Was upset by Bullit's story
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