SENSATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 121, 16 February 1920, Page 7

SENSATION IN THE UNITED STATES

» SECRETARY OF STATE RESIGNS DISAGREEMENT WITH PRESIDENT COMES TO A HEAD OTHER RESIGNATIONS FOLLOW (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. February 15, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, February 13. The Secretary of State, Mr. Robert Lansing, has resigned and President Wilson has accepted his resignation. President Wilson wrote to Mr. Lansing on February 7 asking if it were true that Mr. Lansing had called a Cabinet meeting during lii§ (President Wilson's) illness, and pointing out that no one save the President had authority to do this. Mr. Lansing replied: "Yes. Do you think I failed ill my loyalty to you?" And he tendered his resignation. It is further stated that the correspondence between Mr. Lansing and President Wilson that led to Mr. Lansing's resignation has brought out the fact that there has been a growing difference between the two men for some time. President Wilson stated in one letter that he felt, while he and Mr. Lansing were still in Paris, that Mr. Lansing accepted the President's guidance and direction with increasing reluctance and that, he attempted to forestall President Wilson's judgment in many matters. Mr. Lansing, in replying, stated that he long ago wished to Tesign, because since January, 1919, ho felt that President Wilson no longer welcomed the advice of the Secretary _ for State pertaining to' negotiations in Paris and to international affairs generally, but he withheld his resignation, fearing that it would he misinterpreted abroad and embarrass the' President. Mr. Lansing concluded by pointing out that he neither wished to belittle nor to be the usurper of the President's authority by calling a Cabinet meeting.

A Press report states that desnite loss of power in his left arm and leg. President Wilson exnects to preside at Cabinet meetings shortly. The tone of his letter to Mr. Lansing is taken as indicating- full possession of his former strength of intellect and capacity for tho initiative. Another Resignation. Tho newspapers state that the resignation of Mr, Fletcher, Ambassador to Mexico, is due to disgust at the President's Mexican policy, with which Mr. Lansing is also dissatisfied.^ Other Press references disclose that the Wilson-Lgnsing disagreement began in 1917, when Mr. Lansing that tho United States was steadily drifting towards war. There were further disagreements in Paris, when, in President Wilson's absenoc. Mr. Lansing tentatively agreed to abandon the League of Nation's provision iD order to allow of poeed being attained in concluding peace. The Bullitt revelations, in which it was disclosed that Mr. Lansing did not approve of the League of Nations, was a further factor. It. is alleged that' at the first Cabinet meeting which Mr. Lansing called complaint was made that none knew ihe President's condition, although rumours were abroad that President Wilson wjjs non compos mentis. Mr. Lansing (]'•' not seen President Wilson since the first dar of his illness. '■ Other Press comment on Mr. Lansing's resignation stresses President Wilson's capacitv for ignoring Cabinet officers and his utilising Colonel House as a special Ambassador abroad instead of Mr. Lansing. Sensation Follows Sensation. Tho Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Franklin If. Lane, has caused a sensation in the capital by announcing that he is equally responsible with Mr. Lansing for the Cabinet meetings which Jfr. Lansing called. It is believed that Mr. Lane will also resign.—Aus.-N.Z.. Cable Assn.