The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-02-20

precedent are of the most serious con-
sequence, and think we will all agree
in desiring not to lead in any wrong
direction. / have, therefore. taken the
liberty of writing you to ask you this
question, and / am sure you will be
glad to answer.
am happy to learn from your re-
cent note to Mrs. Wilson that your
strength is returning. Cordially and
sincerely yours, !.
WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. Robert Lansing,
Secretary Of State.
LANSING OFFERS TO QUIT.
Washington, February 8, 1920.
My Dear Mr.. President:
1t is true that frequently during your
illness requested the heads Of the
executive departments of the Govern
ment to meet for informal conference.
Shortly after you were taken i'll in
October certain members Of the Cab
met, of which was one, felt that, in
view of the fact that we were denied
communication with you, it was wise
for us to confer informally together on
interdepartmental matters and matters
as to which action could not be post
poned until your medical advisers per-
mitted you to pass upon them.
Accordingly l, as the ranking mem
Der, requested the members of the
Cabinet to assemble for such informal
conference; and in view of the mutual
benefit derived the practice was con-
tinued. / can assure you that 1t never
for a moment entered my mind that |
was acting unconstitutionally or con-
trary to your wishes, and there GER
tainly was no intention on my part to
assume powers and exercise functions
which under the Constitution are ex-
clusively confded to the President.
During these troublous times, when
many difficult and vexatious questions
have arisen and when in the circum-
stances / have been deprived of your
guidance and direction, it has been
my constant endeavor to carry out
your policies as L understand them and
to act in all matters as | believed you
would wish me to act. If, however,
you think that | have failed in my
loyalty to you and if you no longer
nave confidence in me and prefer to
have another conduct our foreign af-
fairs, am, of course, ready, Mr.. Pres
ident, to relieve you of any embarrass-
ment by placing my resignation in
your hands. I am, as always, faith
fully yours,
ROBERT LANSING. /.
PRESIDENT ACCEPTS OFFER.
The White House, Washington,
February IL, 1920.
My Dear Mr. Secretary:
/ am very much disappointed by
your letter of February 9 in reply to
mine asking about the so-called Cab
met meetings. You kindly explain the
motives of these meetings, and l find
nothing in your letter which justifies
you. assumption of Presidential au-
tkority in such matter. You say that
you "felt that, in view of the fact that
you were denied communication with
me, it was wise to confer informally
together on interdepartmental matters
and matters as to which action could
not be postponed until nay medical adj
visers permitted me to be seen and
consulted, but 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 with
out me.
This affair, Mr.. Secretary, only
| deepens a feeling that was growing
upon me. While we were still in Paris
| l felt, and have felt increasingly ever
since, that you accepted my guidance
and direction on questions with regard
to which l had to instruct you only
with increasing reluctance, and since
my return to Washington | have been
struck by the number of matters in
which you apparently have tried to
forestall my Judgment by formulating
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 circumstance with any degree OF
independence.
PREFERS ANOTHER SECRETARY
l, therefore, feel that l must frankly
take advantage of your kind sugges
tion that if | should prefer to have
another to conduct our foreign affairs
you are ready to relieve me of any
embarrassment by placing your resig
nation in my hands, for l must say
that it would relieve me of embarrass
ment, Mr.. Secretary, the embarrass
ment 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 willingly &C
along with mine.