Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-21
Diplomats Manifest
Feeling Of Loss at
Lansing's Dismissal

Pan-Amernanism and for his splen-
did conception of what our rela-
tons should be with the nations
south of US. It Is true that he didn't
favor the coupling of the league OF
nations with the peace treaty, SIM
ply because he thought better con-
sideration could be given to each
separately. But he didn't press his
views and when the American mis-
sion got to Paris he worked as hard
as anybody to help realize the ideal
which the president had set bofore
the peace conference. He, wrote a
plan for league of nations and sub
mitted it along with the rest, but
showed no signs Of displeasure
when it was not approved, nor WAS
he peeved at the frequent promi-
nence bestowed upon Colonel
House. He took the presidents
idiosyncrasies for what they were
worth, and like a faithful servant,
did all he could to keep relations
harmonious.
= But the president, instead of ap-
,preciating the seif-sacrifice Of his
secretary. of state, oftentimes forgot
he> had one. He gave so much time
to Colonel House, and placed SO
much confidence in the man from
Texas, that it was a subject OF pub
lie comment on every side. Yet Mr..
Lansing hid his pride and did his
job. 1t was when the Shantung
settlement came up and when the
president became involved in the
meshes of European diplomacy that
Mr. Lansing expressed dissenting
views on number of questions, all
of which served to irritafe Mr. VIII
son, who couldn't brook disagree
ment. Presently Mr.. Wilson began
to lose confidence in the Judgment
of Colonel House and when he
tailed to consult him he relied more
On Mr.. Z Lansing's advice. 1t began
to look as if the two men would get
cioA together after. all. Mr., Lans-
ing continued to work hopefully.
He didn't want the. president TO 90
on that western trip. He thought
Mr.. Wilson could do much more
effective work in Washington and
he felt, too. that the physical strain
might break him down. .,
Senator Hitchcock Knows.
But the real crux of the situation
came when Mr.. Lansing showed un-
mistakable readiness to write a coal
promise on the peace treaty, a Will
ingness to adapt the Lodge reserva-
tons to the Wilson viewpoint in
such fashion that ratification could
be accomplished without loss of dig
nifty by either side. But Mr.. Wilson
was furious. He was impatient with
anyone who even mentioned the
word reservation III his presence.
The nearest one could get i'll a COM
munication that would NOT bring
forth his displeasure was the em-
ployment of the word "interpreta-
tions," Senator Hitchcock could
probably tell all interesting story
some day about his troubles with
President Wilson, which would per-
haps throw light on why Mr.. Ian
sing was sunlmarily dismissed.
Internationally, the departure of
Mr.. Lansing will cause much uncer-
tainty, for our ambassadors and min
listers abroad have long felt they
were unable to execute their tasks
beeause of the lack of knowledge of
what the Department of State had
in mind. There will be even more
perplexity because it will take the
new secretary of state some time to
get his bearings. Mr.. Lansing's
going will be regretted by news
paper men generally, who regarded
him as not necessarily the best sec
retary Of state we have ever had.
but as one of the highest types of
public official-an honest, Christian
gentleman. who gave more to the
president than. he ever received ..