Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-16
PUBLIC GETSF|R
HINT FROM LONDON.
Capital Gossip Says That Presi-
dent Was Not Consulted
on Appointment.
GREY LETTER is IMPORTANT
Believed 1t Was the Spark That
Started White House
Bonfire.
GREY LETTER is IMPORTANT
lRy Associated Press. I

'- nSSoCidteQ HEeSS
WASHINGTON. Feb. ia new Gle.
mont OF explanation for the sensa.
tional election from the Cabinet OF
Secretary OF State Lansing by Pres.
ident Wilson developed today in high
official quarters.
1t was reported that one, IL notithe
most impeiltns. reason for the action
OF rho President was the selection o.
Eiihu Root. presumably after the
State Department had been sounded
out. as the distinguished man from
America to aid in the formation OF n
copn;stitution co for the permanent court
with the plans OF tho member States
of the league OF nations.
MT Roots selection. while mad.
The . council OF the League in % LondoR.
the effect that the President was NO.
asked whether he thought the apnoinf-
ment OF Mr.. Root was suitable cnieiiy
| is free to name whoever It deems best
ntted. American diplomats overseas.
tSo,gi' enNTgh' knew nnny long In advance OF the
appointment that he had been selected
tor .o the position. and they. naturally,
State Department. =. -
Several Reports Circulatins.
While in tho best informed circles
the belief that Viscount Grey,s 7ietts1
Vas YIas.a the !, spark that started the White
was, nevertheless. an Indication to
place credence in the report that Mr..
motive, so far a. the Residents aatias
TSe es,sstton q tho president. 4 -, \.
sea I 81 Mr nos aooi 81 Rasa Msoh u bs the
past selected for, important miasions.
Put Is In n. the IN manner Of hisEappoin tment
sessed the right to select any one ae
It's It's discretion for the posts. one ,of
1t Is also held that 1t would be aiiSs
sether contrary to international. comfy
and and precedent II this Eovernnie Mt were
Otherwise. foreign nations, or ths
sons nse 81 the league might select
| government. go
Papers Gave First News.
The report Is that the President ywas
In, IN ignorance OF Mr.. Roots selection
be ,,S,n chosen; ZEN When the news beeame
ooRed the Upon PFssdeR Mr Roofs il said
as q matter on which he Should at
least ba tn have We. been advised, and bceauss
he believed the State Departmess
tn knew iM,o of t, and REGARDED its, failure
iD hLorn bis rradn.,ss MIN as sGulminatins poInt
| iAclHS uOSIlllIy.e TO-
then indited the letter Which, seSea brourhe ne
aoont Mr; d;,Ls kLsansinE's resignation.
knowledge OF Cabinet meetings soess WAS
swept aside. today when ii was stated
ent at the first meeting early In 6ctn.
per that Rear Admiral Cary T. GRAY.
SON the tnea Presdent's personal physieian
President, asking the members or The
Sao.net by what authority they met and
lor what reason.
Knew of Cabinet Meetings..
This absolutely authentic statement
only served today to heighten the
curiosity over the method chosen by
the Reoranns prssidept ef -; wherein he expressed
lansing. The President's desiinss ssiiih,ns VIII; MI
action MI. lansing: howeysr and his sudden
for political effect. i was points1
President must have known the fact
stated by Mr.. Lansing. that he intended
TO-, to resign. and had already prepared
Had Mr.. Lansing been permitted to
ret retire from the Cabinet voluntarily
ass sstron. erect would h ,S haze been more dis
Sersfors. fePss,aiisd MI. ne fasssassi Esnsias;s
views regarding Mr.. Lansing's res!ES
nation were fortified by deye1onments
SINCE the correspondence was made
| public. NJ
Directed Solely Against Lansing.
1t has been announced. rotwithstand-
Ing the statement of the President that
he regarded +he Cabinet meetings as
illegal and unconstitutional. that he
will soon preside over future Cabinet
meetings meet which will be partly. COM
!'ontiaw'' @ sessions. Eh This parn makes is t1 Il
pretty plain that the President.s hos
tilty was directed solely against Mr.,
The belief that Mr.. Lansing was
waiting for an opportunity to resign
In his own way Is borne out by the
former American ambassador to Mexico,
were both repudiated by the President
on the Mexican policy. they were to
Mr.. Fletcher teneered his res!snatien
voluntarily several weeks ago. In SUBJ
sanitation OF tho belief that MT Ian.
sing intended to do as Mr.. Fletcher
Mt. Lansing made preparations some
resort. @ and that no is : due G. = there " o.;
the twentieth of this month. Under or
prepared to take vacation. especia!iy
during an illness Of tho President. -
No Word From white House.
At the White House today II was
stated emphaticallyL that discussion OF
the Lansing-Wilsoni incident was closed
No ono there would answer any ques.s
tions relating to the subject. Efforts
to obtain any information at the state
as Frank Polk, Secretary Of stats adj.
interim, was In New York. if In
" ts we'll to remember in connection
with Mr. Lanstn rs resirrstion that M q
the differences between him and tho