The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-14

the responsibility for action which !
have been contemplating and which
can now take without hesitation as IL
meets your wishes.
! have the honor. therefore, to tend+r
you my resignation as Seer etary or
State. the same TO take effect at your
convenience.
In thus severing our official aseocla-
ton ! feel. Mr.. President, that / should
make the following statement which l
had prepared recently and which Will
show you that have not been unmind-
full that the continuance Of our presen.
relations was impossible and that real
lied that it was clearly my duty To
bring them to an end at tho earlies,
moment compatible with the public IN
tercst.
Anticipated tho Breaf.
Ever since January. 1919. ] have been
conscious Of the fact that YOU no longer
were disposed to welcome my advice IN
matters pertaining to the negotiations
in Paris. 10 our foreign service. or u
international affairs In general. HOLD
ing these Views ! would. II | ha0 con-
suited my personal inclination alone.
have resigned AZ Secretary OF state ana
commissioner to negotiate peace.
felt, however that such a step might
have been miSlntcrprctcd both at homo
and abroad. and TINT it was my duty TO
cause you no embarrassment in carrying
forward the great task In which You
were then engaged. Possibly ] erred
In this. but If did it was with the bc"'
OF motives.
When returned 10 Washington In the
latter part of July. 1919. my personal
wish TO resign had not changed nut
again | felt that loyalty TO you and my
duty to the administration compelled me
10 defer action as my resignation might
have been miscontrucd into hostility 10
the ratification Of the treaty or peace
or at least into disapproval OF your
views as TO the form OF ratification. l
therefore remained silent. avoiding any
comment on the frequent reports that
We were not in full agreement. Subse-
uucntly. your serious illness. durinS
which ! have never seen you. imposed
upon me the duty---at least | construed
il 70 be by duty--to remain in charge OF
the department of state until your
health permitted you to assume again
full direction of foreign affairs.
Believing that that time had nrriFrd'
I had prepared my resignation. ~hch M
only doubt as TO the propriety OF plac!h"
il In your hands was removed D.! YOU
letter indicating that IT would be entire
~ acceptable to you.
think Mr.. President, in accordance
with the frankness which has marked
this correspondence and for which am
grateful to you. that ! cannot permit |"
pass unchallenHed to imputatlnn lhal III
calling into informal conference the
heads OF the executive departments l
sought to uSurp your presiden>al autt-
GRITTY. had no such intention. no such
thought. believe then and hellcf"
now That the conferences. which were
hold were for the best interests Of your
administration and of the Repupilc anu
TINT belief was shared by others whom l
consulted. further believe that IN:
conferences were proper and necessary
IN the circumstances and that woul"
have been derclict in my duty IL h1''
failed to act as did.
Refutes Wilson Accusation.
aIso feel, Mr. President. that cand"r
comncls me to say that | cannot agree
with YOUR statement that ! have tired to
forcstalI your judgment in certain cases
nv formulating action and merely asking
your npprnval when Il was impossiolH
for Won TO form an independent JudS'
mcnt because YOU had not had an oppor-
tunity tn examine Shc circumstances
with any degree Of independence.
hayc. i, IS true. when | thought n case
demanded immediate action. adris"1
Won, what, in my opinion. that action
should be stating at the same tlmc VI
reasons on which my opinion was Rscd'
This I conceived 10 be a function OF III"
Secretary Of stat" and ! have f"lo"eo
tho practice for III" pas -FOUR E"'fS h"''
half confess that have been sur
nrIsod and disappointed at III" frequent
d;sapnroyal Of my suggestions. but J
have never failed to follow your de
cisInns. however difficult Il made the
conduct, Of our foreign affairs.
I need hardly add that leave IN"
office ur Secretary If state with only
good will toward YOU. Mr.. PRESIDENT
and wiIh srrsn 81 profound relief
Forgetting cur differences and re-
mcmbcrimg only your many kindnesSeF
in ,ir.. past, have the homer [" o"' MI
President.
Sincerely yours,
tSirnnd) RORERT LANSING.
Accepts Resignation.
The PRESIDENT
The Whit" House. washington.
l3 February 1872.
NV De7r Mr.. Secretary:
Allow me t. acknowledge with an-
preCiaIion yuur letter OF February
twelfth II noo being evident Mi
Secretary. tina, We have both Of us
felt the cmbarras Sment Of our recent
relations with each other. ! feel II my
duty To accept Your resignation. I" take
effect Mt once: at III" same time adding
that | hope that the future holds Tor
you many successes Of the most graft
fyinr sort Ny best wishes will always
follow vou and II will he n matter OF
gratiflca' i"n tn IN. always 10 r"mrm-
Der our delightful personal relations.
Sincerely yours.
(SIgncdl WOODROW WILSON
Honorable Robert Lansing Secretary