Somewhat
vain, holding himself in much higher estimation than the world did,
few men have so thoroughly enjoyed office as he. But he remained
the quiet and unassuming gentleman he had always been; and he
certainly could not have deluded himself into believing that there
was a still higher office for him to occupy.
Mr. Lansing could not screw up his courage to resign in 1916. The
following year the United States was at war and he naturally could
not desert his post; but in 1919 Mr. Lansing was given another
opportunity, and still he was obdurate. He has told us in his
public confession that he tried to persuade the President not to go
to Paris. Mr. Wilson, as usual, remained unpersuaded, and Mr.
Lansing humbly followed in his train.
Then, of course, Mr. Lansing could not resign, but in Paris he was
even more grossly humiliated; he was completely shut out from the
President's confidence; he wrote letters to Mr. Wilson which the
President did not deign to answer; so little did Mr. Lansing know
what was being done that he sought information from the Chinese
Delegates! It sounds incredible, it seems even more incredible that
a Secretary of State should put himself in such an undignified
position, and having done so should invite the world to share his
ignominy. But he has set it down in his book as if he believed it
was ample defense, instead of realizing that it is condemnation.
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