Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-17
LANSING INVITED
VIGOROUS KICK
FROM PRESIDENT
His Attitude Was Such That He
Should Have Voluntarily Re-
tired Long Ago.
HIS STAY WAS IMPOSSIBLE
Washington Post, February IL

Washington Post. February IL
The abrupt breach between President
Wilson and his Secretary of State, Mr..
Lansing. is the elimination of differences
originating months ago. IL was impos-
siblc to reconcile these differences, and il
is now evident that the parting should
have taken place much sooner. The
initiative should have been taken by MIR.
lansing; but, inasmuch As he did not act,
President Wilson WAS finally compelled to
act.
The immediate cause of the brcoch need
not be dwelt upon, as il would not have
been sufficient in itself to separate two
officials who were in cordial relations and
working in sympathy for a common end.
Had Mr. Wilson reposed full confidence in
the loyalty of his subordinate il would not
have occurred to him TO suspect this
official was taking advantage Of the illness
of the chief of state On the other hand, IT
Mr.. Lansing had been intent upon AFRO
eating power to himself, it is improbable
that he would have taken other depart
mcnt heads into his confidence.
Obviously, the President had In mind
other facts. not vet disclosed which may
have convinced him that Mr.. Lansing was
actually cndesvoring To commit the cab
met to policies running contrary TO the
Presidents purposes. In the absence OF
complete information, IL naturally seems
10 the public that the President attached
undue Importance to Mr.. Lansings action
m calling cabinet meetings.
One controlling fact must be borne IN
mind in this connection: This is the Will
son administration, and MIR. Wilson alone
rvercises the authority and bears the
responsibility of the executive branch of
the government. Congress creates de-
paTtments to make 1T possible for the
President to exercise his powers. but IT
cannot increase or diminish his authority
or responsibility The policy of the eXecu-
tive cannot he made by any other person
than the President of the United States.
Nothing that the heads of departments
may do or omit TO do. and no cNgencv OF
public business resulting from the Presi-
dents illness, can possibly impair IN the
slightest degree the identity of the Wilson
administration with Woodrow Wilson's
personality. Let us now consider the
situation which has developed from the
workings of that personality in the subtle
and uneXplored sphere of foreign rela-
tions.
President Wilson has felt from the first
his personal responsibility to the nation
and the world in the matter Of making
tta''. ltS tAtf3tSStu ifstht IL
peatedlv In the most solemn manner. As
the executive of this government he Is en-
powered TO conduct the relations of the
United States with other nations, and, up
30 a certain point, he has power to com
mt this government TO policies and actions
pf the most momentous consequence.
The compleyity and delicacy of the sub
jccts arising under the head of foreign
relations" cannot be exaggerated. The
cleareSt insight the most exhaustive In
formation and the utmost secrecy In re- /
gard to intended moves are requisite ele- /
lnents of success Many other factors are /
involved, which will occur to the reader /
withour detailing them. President Wilson /
has been called upon to match his in !
tellect and resources against the intel /.
lects and resources of the heads of many
governments, all of them having particular
aims Of their own. Moreover, he hes been
made leader of all the leaders, by virtue of
his position at the head of the United /
states government. In that capacity he
worked for many months, bringing about !
what he conceived to be the only prac-
ticable settlement which would insure !
lreace In the world.
In the midst of these labors President /,
Wilson found that Mr. Lansing did not (
with part or all of the plan /
hat was developing. The effect of this /
discovery must have been peculiarly disap- !
pointing to Mr., Wilson, for it was time /
# high tension and crowded hours when |