The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08
REFUSES TO INTERFERE.
THIS GOVERNMENTS POLICY RE
6IRDING THE IRlNSVAIL.

| Requested to Do SO by Both Parties
| Concerned-Gen. OBoirns Will not he
| Received in n Diplomatic Capacity.
| WASHINGTON Oct. 1.-THE official announce
ment was made at the State Department this
| morning that the United States will positively
| decline to interfere in the controversy between
| Great Britain and the South African Republic
and any effort to induce 1t to mediate will be
regarded as an attempt to involve this country
in the English-B oer imbroglio. A high official
| OF the State Department said to-day that there
Is no reason whatever why this country should
| interfere. and that there will be no mediation
| by the United States. The Transvaal. he said
10 no ote from the possessions OF this country
and cannot come under the provisions OF the
| Monroe Doctrine 30 that the United States has
no interest whatever in the controversy.
| A cable despatch to the State Department an
nounced that Gen. o BERN had been appointed
| q special representative Of the Transvaal.
| This will not interfere with his appearance
| at the State Department as an American oiti-
zen. and his remarks will be listened to as such.
but no official recognition will be given him.
| Gen. O'Beirns had an appointment with Acting
| Secretary OF State Hill this morning but did
| not see him at the appointed hour 1t 10 learned
that when Gen. 0'Berne does appear at the
state Department he will be informed that he
| cannot bs listened to as the Transvaal's diplo-
matte agent.
1t is not certain that the Transvaal will not
take some other step seeking Interference on
the part OF the United States. Gen. O'Beirne
| could be accredited to the United States as
consul and then make proposal OF mediation.
| or the Trsnsvaal may appoint some repre-
sentative other than an American citizen In
that case the United States may listen to him.
but positive refusal to interfere in any way
| will be given by the officials Of this Govern
ment.
The Government has decided to adhere
| strictly to the policy OF not using its good Of
| fees to bring about a setlement Of the dispute
unless asked to do 80 by both parties con-
csrned. 1t has always been considered Ques-
| tionable Diplomatic proceeding for a Govern
ment to offer to mediate between two other ma
tions at the request OF only one OF them, unless
the interests OF the third party In some
| way involved. While tho good Offices Of the
| United States were offered in the japanese
! Chinese war at the request OF China alone. 1t
| was known In advance that the offer would be
| entirely acceptable to japan. 1t is therefore
| unlikely, even should the South African Re-
| public ask this Government directly to use its
good offices to avert war. that the State Depart
| ment would comply with the request A case
in point was that OF the action Of the ambas.a-
| doris OF European countries in Washington
',
| before the outbreak OF hostilites between the
United States and Spain. to express the hope
| that war might be averted. Tho am bassadors
| were listened to politely. and Just as politely
| told by the President. in diplomatic language
| that the affair was none OF their business Only
| in cases where the interests Of the United
| States are concerned will this Government
offer mediation without suggestion from the
principals.
II Gen. OBeirne should present to the State
| Department a request from the South Afr can
| Republic that the United States Government
| use its good Offices to avert war with Great Brit
| ain. the request would not be entertained. as to
| receive it would be to acknowledge that Gen
| OBeirne had authority to act for the Trans
| vaal. II Gen. O'Beirne should in his personal
| paoity ask the Government to intervene. the
| request would be received Just as have hun
| dreds OF similar suggestions from other Ameri-
| can citizens. Such request from citizen ofthe
| Tranevaal duly accredited. might be received
| but it would have no effect unless Great
| Britain officially made request OF the same
| character telegram OF the same character
| directly from the Transvaal Government to
| this Government would be received filed and
| acknowledged. but that would be the end Of it,
| Dr.. David j. Hill the Acting Secretary OF
| State. said to- day when questioned about Gen.
| OBeirnes status: The Department received
| a despatch from the Secretary OF State Of the
| Trunsvaal. asking il the Government would
receive Gen O'Beirne as the official represen-
| tatve OF tho Transvaal. with the title Of special
| commissioner. and requesting that the Gov
eminent at Pretoria and Gen O'Berne be In
| formed OF the Departments action. While
| special ommissioner is an office which the
| Department has frequently recognized. 1t was
| obliged to inform the Secretary OF State OF the
| Transvaal and Gen O'Beirne that. following
| It's fixed rule the Government could not re-
| ceive an American citizen in a diplomatic ca
pacty."
| WASHINGTON. Oct Later in the day Gen.
| OBeirne saw Acting Secretary Hill. He was
accompanied by W. Wander Hoogt Of Baltimore
and l. G. Robin Of New York. who are Of Dutch
| descent. and have taken great interest in the
| Transvaa trouble. In the morning Gen.
| OBsirne had learned from Assistant Secretary
| Adee that he would not be received OIL
cially He therefore made no effort to Oh
| tain official recognition from Acting Secretary
| Hill. The talk between the Acting Secretary
| and Gen. O'Beirne was entirely unofficial.
| Gen. O'Berne made his request for the media
| ton OF the United States In the British Boer
trouble. but only in his capacity as an Ameri-
| can citizen and not as a duly accredited repre-
| sentative OF the Government OF the South
| African Republic He argued that the United
| States should mediate on humanitarian
grounds The Acting Secretary said afterw0rd
| that Gen. O'Beirnc made an excellent argu-
| ment and q very favorable impression.
| Gen. O'Beirne declined to discuss his inter-
| view except to say that he had appeared be-
| fore DR.. Hill in personal capacity. His cabled
| credentials. he said. would not be presented
| hut the usual letters Of credence would be sent
| 10 him by mail. Even II Gen. O'Bsirna presents
formal credentials he will not be recognized
officially. That has been determined by the
State Department. and nothing that Gen
O'Beirne can say or do will cause the Depart
| ment to receive him as the Commissioner OF
the Transvaal. The matter has been flpally dis
| posed OF SO far as Gen. O BeirnO 10 concerned