Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-14

ton that sif ! should prefer to have
another TO conduct our foreign affairs
by piaeihs your YOU - res Sig
nation in my hands. for L must say
that 1t would relieve me Of embarrass-
ment of feeling your reluctance and
divergence of judgment, IL you would
give your present office up and afford
me an opportunity to select some one
whose mind would more willingly so
along with mine.
luetancc take advantage Of your sug-
'sestion. or that do so with the kind
lest feeling. In matters of trans
cendent Importance like this the only
wise course Is Il course OF perfect can
dor where personal feeling is as much
ms possible left out Of the reckoning.
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
Hon. Robert lansing,
Secretary of State.
Letter Hints sft Paris News.
The Secretary of State,
Washington, Feb. l., 1920.
Ally Dear Mr.. President:
i wish to thank you sincerely for
your candid letter of the nth, In which
acceptable TO you. since it relieves me
OF the responsibility for action which
] have been contemplating and which
j can now take without hesitation, as
ii meets your wishes.
] have the honor therefore. to ten
der you my resignation as Secretary Of
In thus severing our official associa-
ton feel. Mr.. President that l should
make the following statement. which l
had prepared recently and which will
show you that have not been UNI
mindful that the continuance Of our
that / realized that it was clearly my
duty to bring them TO an end at the
earliest moment compatible with the
ignored I.nnsinE's ADVICE
Ever since January, 1919, have
been conscious OF the fact that you
my advice in matters pertaining to the
negotiations in Paris, TO our foreign
service: or to international affairs in
general. Holding these views.
would. II l had consulted my. personal
inclination alone. nave resigned as
Secretary OF state and as a commits
ever that s:ch step might have been
rnisinterpreted both at home and
abroad. and that ii WAS my duty to
cause YOU no embarrassment In carry
ing forward the great task in which
you were then engaged. Possibly l
erred in this. but il did it was with
When i returned to Washington in tho
latter part OF July. 1919 my personal
wish TO resign had not changed but
again felt that loyalty toyou and duty
to the administration compelled me to
defer action. as my resignation might
have been misconstrued into hostility
peace, or at least into disapproval of
your views as to the form of ra:fica-
ton. | therefore remained silent,
avoiding any comment on the frequent
reports that we were not in full agree
mcnt. Subsequently your serious III
ness, during which ! have never seen
least ! construed it 10 be my duty
70 remain in charge or the Department
OF state until your health permitted
YOU 10 assume again full direction of
foreign aHailk.
Believing that this time had ar
rived J had prepared my resignation.
priety OF placing IL in your hands was
removed by your letter Indicating that
II would be entirely acceptable to YOU.
answers lnchnlIcnEed Imputafion.
think, MIR. President, in accorda nee
with the frankness which has marked
TINS correspondence and for which I
NIT to pass unchallenged the imputa-
lion that in calling into informal con-
Terence the heads Of tho executive de-
presidential authority. J had no such
intention, no such thought ] believed
then. and believe now. that the
for the best interests of your admin
iistration and of the republic, and that
belief was shared by others whom
sary, in, the circumstances, and that /
~ iidu idlicQ ACT as l ola. l.rU...t.I
n also feel, Mr.. President, that can
DOR compels me to, say that l cannot
agree agree with your statement that 1 have
tried to forestall your judgment in
certain cases by formulating action
It. was imnossiblc for you. to form an
Independent Judgment because you had
not mad an opportunity TO examine tho
circumstances with any degree of In
dependence. have, it is true, when
! thought q case demanded Immediate
acton. advised you what. in my opin-
lCn. that action should be, stating at
! me same time the reasons on which
| my opinion was based. a
| Followed Usual Custom.
| g, rms conceived to be a function of
| The Secretary OF state and 1 have fol-
lowed lowed the practice for the. past. four
nave been surprised and disappointed
s at The frequent dlsapproval OF my
ioilow your decisions, however difficult
J fairs. ~ - ','t' - 4. = - :. ~ q
need hardly adu that i leave Tho
sood will toward You, MI. 4 BY s ii denH
! ana with sense OF profound reItcf. y