The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-02-14
STATE DEPARTMENT CONTROVERSY BEGAN
IN PARIS, CORE SP0NDENCE DISCLOSED

President, to relieve you OF any en-
barrassment by placing my resigna
ton in your hands.
Il am, as always,
Faithfully yours. |
ROBERT LANSING"
To this the president replied as fol-
lows: 1
THE White House.
Washington. February IL, 1920.
MY Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Il am disappointed greatly by your
letter of February 9 in reply to me
asking about the sp-called cabinet
meetings.
'You kindly explain the motives of
these meetings and I find nothing in
your letter which Justifles your as
sumption OF presidential authority in
such matter. You Say you felt that,
In view of the fact that you were de-
MED communication with me. 1T was
wise to confer Informally together on
interdepartmental matters and mat
tiers as to which action could not be
postponed until my medical advisers
permitted me to be seen and consult
ed, but I have, to remind you, Mr..
Secretary. that no action could be TAX
en- by the cabinet without me and
LhGiSloio lLCiC Souiu IdNc UCCA ~
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 still were in Paris felt
and have felt increasingly ever since,
that you accepted my guidance and
direction on questions with regard to
which had to instruct you only with
increasing reluctance, and since my
return to Washington l 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 1t was impossible for me to form
an Independent judgment because
had not had an opportunity to exam.
Inc the circumstances with any degree
| Of independence.
Resignation Is Requested.
II feel, therefore, that I frankly
must take advantage of your kind sug-
gestion that, if should prefer to have
another conduct our foreign affairs,
you are ready to relieve me of an en-
barrassment by placing your resigna-
ton in my hands, for I must say that
it would relieve me Of an embarrass-
ment, Mr.. Secretary, the embarrass-
| ment of feeling your reluctance and
| diversion of judgment, if you would
| give up your present office and afford
me an opportunity to select some one
whose mind would more willingly go
| along with mine.
II need not tell you with what re-
luctance take advantage of your sug-
! gestion, nor that I do so with the
! lIindliest feeling. In matters of trans
cendent Importance, such as this, the
only wise course is course of perfect
! candor, where personal feeling. as
much as possible, is left out of the
! reckoning.
!: VERY sincerely yours,
"Woodrow Wilson,"
In response to this note Secretary
Lansing replied as follows:
washington, Feb. 10, 1920.
! MY Dear Mr.. President:
| Il wish to thank you sincerely for
your candid letter of the 18th, in
; which you state that my resignation
, would be acceptable to you. as it re-
! lieves me of the responsibility for
action which l have been contemplate
! ing, and which l can now take without
, hesitation, as it meets your wishes