Evening star., 1948-03-05
He concluded with his afYeetionsta

He concluded with his ad1ectaonkte
regards.
The Presidents appeal was %
heartfelt and affected me 20 sreatly
that I had an earnest talk with the
doctors who were treating me. Their
answer was that could not possibly
return to my ofiice for q long time
TO come. did not think it fair
either to the Government or to
myself. therefore, to accept the
Presidents suggestion that I remain
in ofiice until January 40. ! felt
it was only just that q new Secre-
tary Of State should be named to
take over. And ] felt that, Is titu-
lar head Of the State Department,
I would be held responsible for for
eign policies in the formulation Of
which I had no active part.
I. therefore, replied to the Presi-
dent on November Is, telling him
I was deeply moved by his letter and
eternally grateful for his kind solici-
tude about my health and his gener-
GUS references to our close personal
and official relationship Of u years.
After repeating that 1t was q per-
sonal tragedy to me that my state
Of health made 1t impossible to con-
tinue in the public service, and
after stating that I would always
cherish the ties between us Of friend.
ship and affection, I said:
with all my heart I wish that
I could meet your desire that my
resignation as Secretary OF State
become effective on January 40
rather than now. I have consulted
again with my physicians. The
speed Of my recovery is definitely
connected with the extent to which
/ can be free from all worry and
responsibility. You can well under.
stand that, ut time like this, IL
is impossible for me to lay aside
the heavy responsibilities OF the
secretaryship Of State 50 long Is
remain in that ONCE. In fairness to
the cause for which you and I have
worked 50 long together, to the
country, to you, and to myself, feel
that my resignation must become
effective now"
Setttinius Successor.
The President now accented INV
resignation and announced 1t on
November a. He named the Under
secretary Of State, Edward r. stet-
tinius, jr., to succeed me. MY tenure
ended oficially on November 20,
1914.
The President came to sse me at
the hospital several times. On one
occasion, looking tired and worm
he was then only q few weeks from
death-he said to me as I lay In
bed, Il ought to be there where you
are"
During the seven long months I
spent In the hospital I was ire.
quently heartened by sisns that,
though out Of ONCE, my work was
not forgotten.
From the Yalta Conference re-
ceived . cable signed by Roosevelt.
Stain. Churchill, 'Molotoy, Eden
and Stettinius saying: I'VE have
missed you ut this conference and
send to you our afYectionate greet
ings. We wish for you Q speedy re-
covery in order that all Of us may
have the benetit Of association with
you again"
I should state at this point that I
was not consulted by the President
or any one, else on policy issues
prior to or during the Yalta Con.
ference.
Two months after the Yalta Con-
ference I was stunned on April II
by President Roosevelt's sudden
death. He had come to see me the
day before leaving for Hyde Park
and then for Warm Springs, Ga,
where he died . few days later. On
the occasion Of his visit I admon.
ished him about his health, saying
he should take more rest. He said
he was leaving the following day for
this purpose.
Roosevelt Praised.
President Roosevelt, In my opin-
lon, was the greatest social reformer
In our modern history, even though
many persons might disagree with
certain of his reforms. AS COM
nander in Chief, his achievements
we're outstanding among those Of
,ther commanders in chief. In my
opinion he had no contemporary
'ival In political skill.
As long as knew him he was al
ways an earnest follower Of indi.
vidual liberty, freedom and other
basic rights and privileges necessary
'or the welfare Of the private citi-
Zen. These included the ideals Of
Justice, law and order. He was o
Itrong and consistent, and often
lines an extreme, liberal in his
,iews.
The steps he took in the military
leld which led straight toward VIC
;ory meant everything to us in the
field by giving to the
orce Of our diplomacy the indispen-
able backing of military success.
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