The morning times., 1896-01-26
HAMMOND NOT TO BLAME
American Engineer Loyal to the
TransvaaI Government.
HIS INVITATION TO JAMESON
Consul A gent Munion ca bles Secretary
Olney Details of the SituatiOn-Al
Other Americans Arrested for Al
legged Conspiracy Ont ON Pa role-In-
structed to Give All Possible Relief.

| A long cable dispatch has been received
| by Secretary Olney from Mr.. Manion, the
United STATES consular agent at Johannes
, burg, who gives the details OF The situation
| with reference 10 John Hayes Hammond,
. theCaiiiornia mining engineer, aud the other
i Americans arrested for alleged completely
/ in the Gitlandcr conspiracy.
Mr.. MlniOn Says ina, ali American prison
ers are out on parole except Hammond
! whose case differs FROM that OF the Other
| Americans IN that he signed conditiona
! invitation 10 jameson 10 come to Johannes
burg in the event OF extreme peril.
! CoUNSELLED OBEDIENCE TO LAW.
| Jameson. however, marched toward Jo-
! hannesburS before trouble arose, and when
| this was discovered The American leaders
, and tue principal men issued a proclamation
calling upon the people to refrain from hos
. tilities.
J Instead OF melting rebellion Hammond,
| i'll the beginning, according 10 Mr.. ManioD,
! raised the TrausvIai flag. and all in the
movement swore allegiance to the govern
! ment Clement ana other Americans took
arms froinmany persons, and sent menhome.
Not a shot was fred by the Johanna
| burg party, says MIR. Manioa. There was
no disturbance, not single act OF hos
| tility; arms were peacefully surrendered,
| and every effort was made to maintain
| the Transvaal republic against British en-
Croachment-
AMERICANS WILL BE TRIED.
The cases against the American prisoners
will be tried in court, though the govern
ment has not yet indicated the time. Mr..
Manion adds that the Transvaal government
has acted nlagnauimously,
, Secretary Oiucy acted promptly on Mr..
MaDinn's dispatch 10y cabling The la tier TO
take the most active and vigorous measures
for the relief Of the Americans, and to that
end to make To the Transvaal government
dreci representations in behalf of the
United States.
ACTING IN ITS OWN BEHAL LF.
1t viii he seen from Mr.. Manion's dis
patch that Hammond and the other Ameri
cans who were arrested are not in serious
peril. wiihstauding this, however, Sec
relary OIney ydetermined tnmak their safety
a surety so far as this government is con-
cerued. and therefore cabled MIR. Manion
the instructions given. In pursuing this
Course the United States government is act
ing independently ia its own interest and
in behalf OF it's own citizens, and not as the
sympathizer or ally OF any other power.
Mr.. Manion's dispatch conveyed to this
the participation or Hammond in the Jo-
hannesburg troubles. AS Mr.. ManioD says,
he is held in custody after other Americans
have been released. because he signed an in
vitation to Jameson to come to Johannes
burg, conditional upon extreme peril threat
ening the Uitlanders there.
This fact, despite the extenuation fur
nished through his action in raising the
Transvaal flag, coupled with his personal
and business relations with Cecil Rhodes,
is believed here to bode no good for Ham,
mond' cause, and ii is certain that the Beers
are anxious to punish him severely.
Hanmond's strongest hope lies iii the act
OF President Kruger in turning over Jameson
and members OF his party 10 the british
imperial authorities for trial. Secretary
Olney viii in all probability take advantage
of this and protest against Hammond s trial
in the Transvaal courts on the ground of
unjust discrimination in favor of British SUBJ
1ects.