with the President at the White House August 19, 1919

Hearing of Mr. Bullitt before Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations September 12, 1919

Return of President to Washington from tour
of West September 28, 1919

Resignation of Mr. Lansing as Secretary
of State February 13, 1920

CHAPTER I

REASONS FOR WRITING A PERSONAL NARRATIVE

"While we were still in Paris, I felt, and have felt increasingly ever
since, that you accepted my guidance and direction on questions with
regard to which I had to instruct you only with increasing
reluctance....

"... I must say that it would relieve me of embarrassment, Mr.
Secretary, the embarrassment of feeling your reluctance and divergence
of judgment, if you would give your present office up and afford me an
opportunity to select some one whose mind would more willingly go along
with mine."

These words are taken from the letter which President Wilson wrote to me
on February 11, 1920. On the following day I tendered my resignation as
Secretary of State by a letter, in which I said:

"Ever since January, 1919, I have been conscious of the fact that you
no longer were disposed to welcome my advice in matters pertaining to
the negotiations in Paris, to our foreign service, or to
international affairs in general. Holding these views I would, if I
had consulted my personal inclination alone, have resigned as
Secretary of State and as a Commissioner to Negotiate Peace. I felt,
however, that such a step might have been misinterpreted both at home
and abroad, and that it was my duty to cause you no embarrassment in
carrying forward the great task in which you were then engaged."

The President was right in his impression that, "while we were still in
Paris," I had accepted his guidance and direction with reluctance. It
was as correct as my statement that, as early as January, 1919, I was
conscious that he was no longer disposed to welcome my advice in matters
pertaining to the peace negotiations at Paris.

There have been obvious reasons of propriety for my silence until now as
to the divergence of judgment, the differences of opinion and the
consequent breach in the relations between President Wilson and myself.
They have been the subject of speculation and inference which have left
uncertain the true record. The time