Show 1 l I Wilson an and Lansing an in II r- r pRESIDENT PRESIDENT RESIDENT WILSON WILSON undoubtedly had good and sufficient reason rea- rea i son son sori for removing Robert Lansing from the position of secretary secre- secre secre-I secre I n. n lt tary ty of state It had had been apparent for m many ny months that that they tey I were ere not working in m harmony and when su such h a cond condition arises j between betTeen n a chief and a a subordinate it is to be expected that th the subordinate s go o ca' ca But the summary manner n manner bordering on autocratic t C in which the president acted and the reason assigned for requesting tI the secret secretary's secre- secre r t tary's rys ry's s resignation can and will aro arouse se public censure It will lead many t to the conclusion that the president although recovering lii leis tiis J r health has has b been en made querulous by his illness and that he has f forgotten for for- r- r t. g gotten tt nl the dignity and diplomacy that heretofore hav have ma marked ke li his r official al actions M The e correspondence which passed between Mr Wilson VilSon a and d Mr Air Lansing Lansing would indicate the p president resident asked for the secretary's s resignation solely because the secretary called sessions of the cabA cabu cab- cab A u t. t ra inet while white the president resident was ill These cabinet sessions ere were ere ims im im- s t s T To an outsider it would seem seem natural that the h-e departs depart depart- v ment nt he heads ds should meet while th their ir c chief was ill and thus by exchanging ex ex- N changing opinions more capably Yc conduct the affairs affair of t the e g govern govern- ve n- n 4 ment The cabinet matter as a a matter of J fact ct appears appear trivial nor do does Mr L Lansing seem more involved than any of off the theother other cabinet officials is for all attended the sessions and to took k part in the at ons Observers of governmental affairs affairs' must incline to the the belief i that that something more important than the cabinet meetings g s prompted r ft the pr president si ent to take decisive a action ti n. n And there is much much to sup- sup es i f t port ort this belief v During the peace negotiations at Paris there were many indications indications indi- indi that Mr Wilson and Mr Lansing were not in harmony T Ta s 's These There came a time when the secretary was practically ignored 4 a How ow great was wa this breach was later illustrated by Bullitts Bullitt's t testimony stin before a senate committee Bullitt it will be recalled testified he 1 held held a lengthy conference in fn Paris Pads with Secretary Lansing Het He t testified stiffed that Mr Lansing had told him he was opposed to uniting u u the covenants of the league of nations with the peace treaty and andL Mr L that he had disputed this matter with President Wilson Bullitt ra s said id Secretary Lansing denounced the ithe pea peace e treaty treat as as' an infamous o n s su u a document and that he declared te the people of the United St States tes rt I never stand for for its ratification if if they hey l realized it its pernicious pernicious- I lr ness ness Late Later Lansing appeared before a a congressional committee and his testimony could coul well weIl be considered a direct affront affront af af- fr front nf- nf to to the the- the president There has in fact been such cumulative u 0 j f evidence of a breach between the president and the I secretary of Jo state that r. A Lansing's retirement from the cabinet has been ext ex- ex 9 t r P f for r several weeks That the matter did not earlier arlier rea reach h a a alf lf P t crisis was probably due to two lo considerations First the presidents president's presidents president's d dents dent's rit illness second the effect an p a pen open a avowal Vat of pf th the situation i might iii have on peace peace treaty deliberations in the senate i Under de the cir circumstances circumstances' the requested resignation of Mn Mrs Lansing Lan Lan- 1 Lan Lan- Lansing sing sing cannot be said to come me as a surprise What surprise there is isis is is is is' occasioned by the abruptness abruptness' of the presidents president's action and the II I trivial such such for action reason assigned reason assigned |