The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-25
LANSING SIDE
is TOLD IN
BOOK TODAY
Ex-Secretary of State Gives
His Version Of Causes for
Which President Wilson Alb
ruptly Dismissed Him.
EPISODES RECORDED
BY MARK SULLIVAN

Ex-Secretary of State Robert Lansing
publishes today the book in which he
gives his version of the causes for
which ex-President Wilson abruptly
dismissed him year ago last month,
and tells what he knows of the actions
of the American delegation to the
peace conference.
To the public most of the book will
come as new and sensational. To
those of us who were in Paris at the
time it is not so new. But it is sensa-
tional in the sense that the most eG-
treme things we ventured to say in
our hurried day-to-day dispatches are
here borne out two years later in the
obviously restrained and carefully
checked up narrative of one who was
himself A delegate.
And when we journalists cried out
against the secrecy Of the peace con-
fercuse / was never sure but our judg-
ment was warped by our national re-
sentiment of the battling of our profes-
sional ambition to get the news. But
here is Lansing saying again and
again, at hundred places in the book
sentences like these:
DepIores Secrecy.
THE secretness of the discussions
and decisions regarding the treaty
settlements aroused amazement and
Indignation. The body of delegates
were practically unanimous in disap-
proving the secrecy of proceedings.
The open sessions of the conference
were arranged before hand. They
were formal and perfunctory. The
agreements and bargains were made
behind closed doors. The American
commissioners other than Colonel
House were at most entirely ignorant
of the proceedings"
Expressions like this or stronger ap-
pear on nearly every page of Mr.. Ian
sings book And if Mr.. Wilson's de-
tenders reply that this is merely dis
missed secretary of state justifying
himself two years after the event. Mr..
Lansing has a complete answer. He
kept a diary. These condemnations
Of secrecy not only appear in his pres
ent text but appear again and again in
the diary which the author is now
able to quote with convincing evident
ial effect. ~
Quotes Diary.
On April 2, 1919, Mr.. Lansing wrote
in his diary: Everywhere there are
developing bitterness and resentment
against secrecy. Buttered condolences,
secret intrigues and the tactics of the
Gum SnOer are QlSCreQlteQ.
And a few days later. in the same
month of April, 1919. Mr.. Lansing re-
corded a conversation he had with
an Italian diplomat who said: "All
our trouble comes from these secret
meetings of four men who keep no
records, and who tell different stories
of what took place. Secrecy is to
blame"
The backbone of the book is Mr.
Lansings statement of his side of the
differences with Mr.. Wilson which
led to his dismissal in February, 1920
According to Mr.. Lansings version
these differences began as long before
as October, 1918. During that month
President Wilson held frequent confer
ences with Colonel House and after
one of these conferences Colonel
House astonished Mr.. Lansing with
the information that Mr.. Wilson in
tended to go to the peace conference
personally.
Stated Views Plainly.
Mr.. Lansing did not believe it was
wise, and Feeling very strongly tina,
it would be a grave mistake for the
president to take part in person ii
the negotiations, | felt it my duty as
his official advisor in foreign matters
and as one desirous to have him adop
wise course, to state plainly to hin
my views"
Mr.. Lansing says he hesitated to
do this because he knew that he him
self as secretary of state would bt
the head of the peace commission i
Mr.. Wilson remained at home. There
FORE he feared that his motive in op
posing the presidents attending nigh
be misconstrued. However, Mr.. Lans
ing, with an air of overconscious recti
tude, 7vercame his scruples and wen
to the president with his views. HI
records the episode in his diary 70
Nov. 12: Il had a conference thi
noon with the president at the White
House. told him frankly that
thought that his plan for him to at
tend was unwise. I hoped that h.
understood that l spoke only out o
sense of duty"
The end of this episode is recorder
by Mr. Lansing in this significant sent
ence: The President listened to m
remarks without comment and turne'
the conversation into other channels.
Unwarranted Meddline.
This incident Mr.. Lansing believe
was the beginning Of the rift betweel
himself and Mr. Wilson. He believe
that Mr.. Wilson considered this ad
wee TO De An unWafrdnIeO meOQlln
with his personal affairs and none o
NV business. From that time forwar
any suggestion or advice volunteere
by me was sneeringly viewed Wit
SUSPICION. Finally. on January II
came the episode which was neares
to overt and dramitic even Mr.. Lansin
tells it with the obvious and labore
determination to justify himself. it /
impossible for the reader not to fee
that he put himself in an undisnifie
light That was the day when MI
Lansing ought to have resigned. Hi
resignation would. of course. hav
brought exactly the explosion whicl
by his silence, he hoped to avoid. Blu
If we had had the explosion then, an
If the attention of the world had heel
called in this spectacular way to tn
difference in views about the Leagu
Continued on PAGE Twe've)