Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-14

wishes.
II have the honor therefore, to
tender You my resignation as sec
rotary of state, the same to take
| effect at your convenience.
TN thus serving our official as
ISOLATION I feel, Mr.. President, that
l should make the following state
ment which I had prepared recently
and which will show you that have
not been unmlndful that the con-
tinuance of our present relations was
| impossible and that l realized that II
was clearly my duty to bring them
to an end at the earliest moment
compatible with the public interest.
Ever since January, 1919, | have
/ been conscious of the fact that you
no longer were disposed TO welcome
my advice in matters pertaining to
| the negotiations in Paris. to our for
eign service or to International at
fairs in general. Holding these
views, | would, II had consulted my
personal inclination alone. have re-
signed as secretary of state and as
commissioner to negotiate peace.
II felt however. thar such a step
might have been misirlerpreted both
at home and abroad, and that ii was
my duty to cause YOU no embarrass-
ment in carrying forward the great
task in which YOU We're then en-
gagged. Possibly | erTe.l in this. bat
If | did it was with the best of
motives.
When | returned 10 Washington
in the latter part of July, 1919, my
personal wish to resign had not
changed, but again | felt that 10y
atty to you and my duty to the ad-
ministration compelled me TO defer
action. as my resignation might have
| been misconstrued into hostility TO
the ratification OF the treaty of
peace or at least into disapproval OF
your views as to the form of ratiti-
cation.
II, therefore. remained silent,
avoiding any comment on the fire.
Quent reports that We were not in
full agreement Subsequently your
serious illness, during which. have
never seen you, imposed upon me
the duty-at least | construed il
=
of the department Of state until
your health permitted you to assume
again full direction OF foreign af-
fairs.
believing that that time had ar
rived. | had prepared my resigna-
ton. when my only doubt as to the
propriety of placing it in your
hands was removed by your letter
indicating that it would be entirely
acceptable TO you.
81 think, Mr.. President, in accord
ance with the frankness which has
marked this correspondence and for
which I am grateful 10 you. that |
can not permit to pass unChallenged
the imputation that in calling into
informal conference the heads of the
executive departments | sought to
usurp your presidential authority.
II had no such intention, no such
thought. l believed then, and l be-
lieve now, that the conferences
which were held were for the best
interests OF your administration and
Of the republic, and that belief was
shared by others whom | consult
| ed. l further believe that the con-
| ferences were proper and necessary
| in the circumstances, and that
would have been perelct in my
duty if l had failed to act as did.
Il also feel. Mr.. President, that
! candor compels me TO say that
can not agree with your statement
that I have tried to forestall your
Judgment in certain cases by for
| mulating action and merely asking
your approval when il was irnpos-
sible for you to form an independ-
ent judgment, because you had not
had an opportunity to examine the
| circumstances with any degree of in
dependence.
Il have, it is true, when I thought
a case demanded imm ed late action
advised you what. In my opinion
that action should be, stating at
| the same time the, reasons on which
my opinion was based. This l con-
ceived to be a function of the Sec
| rotary Of State. and I have followed
| the practice for the past four years
and half.
Il confess that / have been sur
prised and disappointed at the fire.
quent disapprovaI of my sugges-
tions, but have never failed to fol-
| low your decisions. however diff
| cult it made the conduct of our for
| eign affairs.
Il need hardly add that leave the
| office of Secretary of State with only
good will toward you, Mr.. President,
and with a sense OF profound relief.
Forgetting our differences and re-
Numbering only your many kind
nesses in the past. | have the honor
! to be Mr.. President,
Sincerely yours,
"(Signed) Robert Lansings."
In Effect ~ Once