Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-02-20

wise to confer informally together on
ters as to which action could not be
postponed until my medical advisers
permitted me- to be seen and consult
ed, but have to remind you, Mr.. Sec
rotary, that no action could be taken
without me by the cabinet, and there
fore there could have been no dis
advantage In awaiting action with re
gard to matters concerning which ac-
ton 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
| felt, and have felt Increasingly ever
since, that you accepted my guidance
and direction on question with regard
to which I 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 have apparently 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 l
had not had an opportunity to examine
the circumstances with any degree of
independence
II, therefore, feel that l must
frankly take advantage of your kind
suggestion that If should prefer to
hove ooofbor oo,nd,,o4 o,,r fo~o{nv,
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-
harraSsment 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
II need not tell you with what re-
luctance 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
u, 1920.
My Dear Mr.. President: | 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
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.
"Ever since January, 1919, l have
been conscious of the fact that you
no longer we're disposed to welcome
my advice in matters pertaining to the
negotiations in Paris, to oul foreign
service, or to international affairs in
general. Holding the views. | would
If i. had consulted my personal inclina-
ton alone, have resigned as secretary
of state and as commissioner to
negotiate peace.
81 felt, however, that such 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, / erred in this, but If did
it was with the best of motives.
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 / sought to
usurps your presidential authority.
81 had no such intention, no such
thought. further believe that the
conferences were proper and necessary
in the circumstances, and that would
have been derelict in my duty If had
failed to act as did.
81 need hardly add that l leave
the office Of secretary of state with
only good will toward you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, and with sense of profound re-
lief.
Forgetting our differences and re-
membering only your many kindnesses
in the past, have the honor to be,
Mr. President,
ROBERT LANSING"
Wilson to Lansing.
"The White House, Feb, 10, 1920.
"My Dear Mr.. Secretary: Allow me