Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-09
O'BEIRNE GIVES IT UP
Abandons His Attempt to Represent tn
Transvaal Republic.

General O'Beirne has gracefully accepted
the dctum of the State Department and
has abandoned his attempt to secure recog-
milton from the United States as commits
sioner extraordinary of the Transvaal re-
public to the United States. He has return
ed to New York, and so far as known no
one has been appointed in his stead. There
was nothing personal in the refusal to re-
ceive General O'Beirne. Acting Secretary
Hill was governed in his action in that re-
spect by the long-standing rule of the de-
partment prohibiting American citizens
from acting as the diplomatic representa-
tives of a foreign government in the United
States. The only time when an exception
was made to this rule was when MIR. Bur
lingame was received as one OF the diplo-
matte representatives of the Chinese gov
eminent many years ago for the conclusion
of treaties of commerce, etc, between Chi
ma and the United States. China had no
diplomatic relations with the United States
at that time and Mr.. Burlingame was per-
mitted to act as its representative because
of the peculiar circumstances OF the case.
In accepting the mission Mr.. Buriingame
expressly waived all the exemptions usually
! accorded foreign diplomatic officers.
This Governments Position.
Gen. O'Beirne had an interview with Act
ing Secretary Hill late Saturday afternoon.
He was accompanied by Mr.. Van Hoogt.
commissioner of immigration for the state
of Maryland and J. G. Robin. Acting Sec
rotary Hill explained the position of the
State Department in detail. The general
showed no disposition to criticise the action
taken in his case. contenting himself with
a presentation of the urgency of the sit
uation in the Transvaal. He deprecated
the plunging of the Dutch republic into war
with England, but showed no special ami
mus against England.
Mr.. Hill assured him that the State De-
partment could not change in any respect
its time-honored rule to decline to receive
American citizens as diplomatic represen-
tatives for other nations
Acting Secretary Hill said this afternoon
that nothing further had been heard from
the Transvaal republic regarding the ap-
| pointment of an agent at Washington, and
he did not know its intentions in the mat
ter There were no developments in the
matter today, so far as this government is
concerned.
Important Question Involved.
1t is said that there Is an important in
ternational question involved in the action
of this government in the reception of an
envoy from President Kruger Great Bri-
tain claims suzerainty over the Transvaal,
and the question arises If the recognition of
diplomatic officer appointed by the Trans
vaal republic would not indicate that the
United States did not recognize the authori-
ty of Great Britain in the premises. 1t Is
said that Germany has already committed
itself in favor of the Transvaal on this
question, and that the appointment of Gen.
O'Beirne was primarily to secure similar
recognition of the diplomatic rights Of the
little republic from the United States.
Naturally, the United States desires to
avoid committing itself on that point,
which is one of the vital Issues in the dis
pute between Great Britain and the South
! African republic.