The Washington times., 1921-02-23
LANSING BOOK
OUT MARCH5
Wilson's Letter Of Dismissal Is
Text for Volume by ex-
Secretary.
BY NORMAN HAPGOOD.

L
Former Secretary Lansing's book,
TO be published March 8, opens with
the Presidents letter dismissing
him. The text for the whole book
lies in that letter, and particularly
In the sentence in which the Presi-
dent calls attention to the fact that
his ideas and those of the Secretary
have been different. After quoting
that sentence the ex-Secretary
says that he is going on in his toOk
to show how they. differ, and this
explanation is the substance Of the
the book. ''
DIPLOMACY HIS LIFE.
The differences in question are
those relating to the proceedings in
Paris. Mr.. Lansing has been bred in
diplomacy. He married into diplo'
macy. 1t has been his whole life. II
is part Of his nature. II would be i'm
possible for him to do an undlplo-
matte thing. He not only waits until
March to publish his book. but he
lconfines IL to a subject which the
President himself had been first to
open by stating to the public that
such differences of opinion exist.
There will be found In this book no
discretions, nothing that Mr.. Lansing
has not q perfectly obvious right to
explain.
Everybody knows that the princi-
pal reason given by the President
for letting the Secretary go, namely
the Cabinet meetings. when he him
self was incapacitated and there was
no way provided for to carry On the
business OF the nation, was not the
whole story.
His knowledge that at Paris the
Secretary had been saying that the
treaty as drawn was impossible of
execution had prepared the way. The
President had his whole heart in the
treaty and did not wish to have
around him anybody who was in the
least degree skeptical.
And there was another difference
that helped to prepare the way for
the break. 1t also was q matter in
which good minds differed. The Sec
retary's conception Of how we ought
to deal with Mexico was not the same
as that OF the President, and the re-
suit was that communications from
the State Department to Mexico were
often quite out Of harmony with the
Presidents tone. In fact, the MeXi-
can policy belongs strictly to the
President. Especially about the time
backing from anybody in his circle.
DEALS WITH PRINCIPLES.
Mr.. Lansing's discussion Of the ne
gotiations at Paris will deal with
principles and not with personalities.
Yet personalities counted for much
In the result. The history of the
world in those days was modified by
the individualities Of q few men
around .. table.
/ When the future historian discusses
the outcome he will inevitably talk a
good deal about the effects on one
another Of the personalities in this
group. The picture cannot be made
as simple as Keynes makes it. but
nevertheless Keynes Is right in his
main idea that personal character
istics played q great part in The final
outcome.
OF course, the personal side of Mr..
Wilson Is what Mr.. Tumulty knows
best. Whether Mr.. Tumulty will
write his "reminiscences is not yet
decided. He is faced with difficulty
that If he says nothing not generally
known the book will be q disappoint-
ment, while for him to throw any
light on essential matters would he a
breach Of his confidential relation.
Therefore, whether or not he ever
writes the book, will depend no doubt
on the Presidents ideas Of what might
properly 60 into It.
WANT HOUSE BOOK.
A book that many people think
lought to be given to the public Is the
one that Colonel House could write
IL he were so inclined. There are
arguments, Of course. for postponing
such a book until the situation Is less
delicate; but on the other hand some
Of those most intimately acquainted
with the European situation think
to be made available to the American
people.
About Mr.. wilson's own literary
plans there have been erroneous re-
ports His next book will not narrate
events that have been happening re-
Gently. 1t will not be narrative in
form at all Nor will it be document
ary.
The subject is one Of fundamental
political philosophy and one OF great
intrest A prominent Democratic
politician was talking OF the Pres
ident about his literary work and the
President sad:
'T shall not write a narrative, but
I shall see that the material Is made
available for the narratives Of
others"
The politician suggested that the
President ought to be interested in
the verdict Of history on the events
in which he has been concerned. The
President assured him that he was in
terested primarily in what happens
during his lifetime and that he was
content to leave future judgments to
the future.
WILSON'S FUTURE ROLE.
The Presidents decision to live in
Washington has nothing to do with
politics. Mrs. Wilson has always
lived here and II is a purely personal
decision. Tho role that Mr.. Wilson
will play in the politics of his party
will be determined entirely by the
swing of public opinion. II the coun-
try remains anywhere nearly as anti
Wilson as II was last November the
ex-President will take the part OF a
worn out old gentleman with eyes
none too strong.