Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-02-24

action and merely asking my approval
when it was impossible for me to form
an Independent judgment because |
had not had an opportunity to examine
the circumstances with any degree of
independence.
II, therefore, feel that I must
frankly take advantage of your kind
suggestion that if l should prefer to
have another conduct our foreign
affairs you are ready to relieve me
of any embarrassment by placing your
resignation in my hands, for / must
say that it would relieve me of en-
barrassment, Mr.. Secretary, the en-
barrassment of feeling your reluctance
and divergence of judgment. if you
would give your present Office up, and
afford me an opportunity to select
some one whose mind would more will
ingly go along with mine.
Il need not tell you with what re-
luctance l take advantage of your sug-
gestion, or that do so with the kind
Hest feeling. In matters of transcend
ent importance like this the only wise
course is a course of perfect candor,
where personal feeling is as much as
possible left out of the reckoning.
Very sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON"
Lansing to Wilson.
"The secretary of state, February
IL, 1920.
MY Dear Mr.. President: 1 wish to
thank you sincerely for your candid
letter of the 18th, in which you state
that my resignation would be accept
able to you, since it relieves me of
the responsibility for action which
have been contemplating and which 1
can now take without hesitation, as it
meets your wishes.
Il have the honor. therefore, to
tender you my resignation as secretary
of state, the same to take effect at
your convenience.
''In thus severing our official associ-
alton I feel, Mr.. President, that 1
should make the following statement
which had prepared recently and
which will show you that I have not
been unmindful that the continuance
of our present relations was impos-
sible and that I realized that it was
clearly my duty to bring them to an
end at the earliest moment compatible
with the public interest:
Ever since January, 1919, I have
been conscious of the fact that you
no longer were disposed to welcome
my advice in matters pertaining to the
negotiations in Paris, to our foreign
service, or to international affairs in
general. Holding the views, would
If l had consulted my personal inclina-
of state and as a commissioner to
negotiate peace.
81 felt, however, that such a step
might have been misinterpreted both
at home and abroad, and that it was
my duty to cause you no embarrass-
ment in carrying forward the great
task in which you were then engaged.
Possibly, l erred in this, but if did
it was with the best of motives.
"When 1 returned to Washington in
the latter part of July, 1919, my per-
s0nal wish to resign had not changed,
but again felt that loyalty to you
and my duty to the administration
compelled me to defer action, as my
resignation might have been miscOn-
trued into hostility to the ratifica-
lion of the treaty Of peace or at least
into disapproval Of your views as to
the form of ratification.
Believing that the time had ar
rived, had prepared my resignation,
when my only doubt as to the pro-
priety of placing it in your hands was
removed by your letter indicating that
it would be entirely acceptable to you.
81 think, Mr.. President, in accord
ance with the frankness which has
marked this correspondence and for
which l am grateful to you, that I
cannot permit to pass unchallenged
the imputation that in calling into in
formal conference the heads of the
executive departments l sought to
usurp your presidential authority.
81 had no such intention, no such
thought. 1 further believe that the
conferences were proper and necessary
in the circumstances, and that would
have been derelict in my duty if 1 had
failed to act as did.
81 need hardly add that I leave
the Office of secretary of state with
only good will toward you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, and with a sense of profound re-
lief.
Forgetting our differences and re-
Numbering only your many kindnesses
in the past, l have the honor to be,
Mr.. President,
ROBERT LANSING"
Wilson to Lansing.
'The White House, Feb. ID, 1920.
My Dear Mr.. Secretary: Allow me
to acknowledge with appreciation your
letter of February u. 1t now being
evident, Mr.. Secretary, that we have
both of us felt the embarrassment of
our recent relations with each other,
feel it my duty TO accept your resig-
nation, TO take effect at once; at the
same time adding that hope that the
future holds for you many successes
of the most gratifying sort. My best
wishes will always follow you. and il
will be a matter of qualification to me
always TO remember our delightful per-
Sonal relations.
WOODROW WILSON"