The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-14
Lansing Welcomes Chance.
The Secretary of State


The Secretary of State.
Washington, Feb. II, 1920
MY Dear Mr.. President wish to thank
you sincerely for your candid letter of the
eleventh, in which you state that my resig-
nation would be acceptable to you, since it
relieves me of the responsibility for action
which have been contemplating, and
which l can now take without hesitation,
as 1t meets your wishes.
Il have the honor, therefore. to tender
you my resignation as secretary of state,
the same TO take effect at your conven-
In thus severing our official associa-
ton, l feel. Mr.. President, that 1 SHOULD
make the following statement, which 1 had
prepared recently and which will show you
that 1 have not been unmindful that the
continuance of our present relations was
| impossible and that l realized that it was
at the earliest moment compatible with the
public interest.
Opinion Unwelcome to Wilson.
ever since January, 1919, 1 have been
were disposed to welcome my advice in
matters pertaining to the negotiations in
Paris, to our foreign service. or to the
international affairs in general. Holding
| these views, l would, If / had consulted
my personal inclination, alone, have re
! signed secretary of state and com
/ missioner to negotiate peace. 1 felt, how
| ever. that such step might have been
misinterpreted, both at home and abroad,
| and that it was my duty to cause you no
! embarrassment in carrying forward the
| great task in which you were then en-.
IL
| did, 1t was with the best of motives.
/ when l returned to Washington, in
| the latter part of July, 1919. my personal
| wish to resign had not changed. but again
| l felt that loyalty to you and my duty
| to the administration compelled me to
defer action as my resignation might have
| ratification of the treaty of peace. or at
| least into disapproval of your views as to
! the form of ratification. l., therefore, re-
manned silent, avoiding any comment on
the frequent reports that we were not in
Gus illness, during which have never seen
| you, imposed upon me the duty-at least
I construed 1t to be my 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 this time has arrived.
| only doubt as to the propriety of placing it
| in your hands was removed by your letter
| indicating that it would be entirely accept
| able to you.
Duty to Call Conferences.
81 think, Mr.. President in accordance
| with the frankness which has marked this
correspondence and for which l am CRATE
| full to you. that 1 cannot permit to pass
unchallenged the imputation that in calling
! into informal conference the heads of the
your authority Ind 10 no os sucR
| intention, no such thought. I believed
| then and l believe now that the confer
! ences which were held were for the best
| interests of your administration and of
| the republic and that belief was shared by
|
that the conferences were proper and neces-
sary in the circumstances and that 1 would
| have been derelict in my duty If l had
| failed to act as l did.
Denies Presidents Charge.
81 also feel, Mr.. President, that candor
compels me to say that cannot agree with
| your statement that have tried to fore
| stall your Judgment in certain cases by
formulating action and merely asking your
approval when it was impossible for you
to form an Independent Judgment because
had NOT hoh frr1it CO.
| the circumstances with any degree of in
dependence. 1 have, it is true, when
| thought q case demanded immediate action,
advised you what, in my opinion, that ac
| ton should be, stating at the same time
/ the reasons on which my opinion was
based This, L conceived to be a fuhction
| of the secretary of state and 1 have follow
| ed the practice for the past four years and
| a half / confess that have been Surprised
and disappointed at the frequent disap-
proval of my suggestions. but never have
| faied to follow your decisions however
difficult it made the conduct of our foreign
II need hardly add that leave the office
OF secretary of state with only good will
Forgetting our differences and re-
dent. ave 'le D'IO' - - MI ! resi-
sincerely yours: onrsr ,,s
"The President.
1.-The White House"
The White House.
washington. Feb. 10, 1920
My Dear Mr.. Secretary-Allow me to
acknowledge, with appreciation. your let
ter Of February y. 1t now being evident,
Mr. Secretary, that we htave both of US felt
the embarrassment, of our recent relations
cept your resignation to take effect at
once; at the same time adding that 1 hope
| that the future holds for you many sue
] cesses of the most gratifying sort Nv
best wishes will always follow you and it
viii be matter of qualification to me to
remember our delightful personal relations.
Sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON.
HON. ROBERT LANSING,
Secretary of State"
Los Angeles.-Delmar Knox buried a
gallon jug of whiskey on his ranch when
I he "swOre Off five yparS