The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1899-10-26

.(From our own Correspondent. }

Admiral Dewey's return that he
would apply for retirement on De-
cember 25th, next, when he will reach
the usual retiring age Of 81 years, or
immed lately thereafter. 1t seems
certain that these rumors are incor-
rect, and that the Admiral will stay
on the active list, remaining on duty
with the Philippine Commission dur
ing tho winter. Were he to ask for
retirement he would suffer q loss In
salary of 81, 500 year, the allowance.
he now receives for quarters, and the
services of a naval aide aud secre-
tary.
The State Department officials have
had much to occupy their attention
during the past week. An official
statement was issued stating that in
the absence of request from both
England aud the Transvsal, there was
nothing in international rules or usa-
ges to justify an offer of mediation.
under present circumstances. The
President had hoped that hostilities
would be averted, but as they had
come, the efforts Of this government
would be directed to seeing that
neither our national interests nor
those of our citizens should suffer un-
necessary injury.
AS "a result of notification receiv-
ed by the British embassy that the
British agent at Pretoria had been
Withdrawn, Acting Secretary Adee
cabled Consul Macrum directing him
to carry out the instructions sent him
relative to the protection of the in
terests of British subjects during
hostilities. This arrangement con-
templates the American consul act
ing only as guardian of private in
terests and not as . representative of
the British government. The only
consular official besides Mr.. Macrum
in the Transvaal is Consular Agent
Dorgon at johannesburg. In the
Orange Free State the United States
has been represented by Alfred FL
lott. consular agent at Bioomfontein.
He is an E0glishman, and should he
be required to withdraw Mr.. Macrum
will be instructed to select some suit
able American to take his place.
/ It does not appear likely at present
that . formal proclamation of neutra-
lity will be issued by the United
States. 1t has been customary with
us to omit these proclamations until
some emergency arises calling for
their issue, and such is not expected
to occur in South Africa. 1t is also
taken into consideration that the
Transvaal Republic has never been
recognized by the United States as
an dependent nation, all of its for
eign relations having been conducted
through Great Britain. Officially
the present dispute is regarded as 9
parallel to the conflict between the
Federal government and the seeding
Southern States, during which thit
government resented any appearance
of recognition of Southern indepen
dence by foreign nations. 1t is hell
that q proclamation Of neutrality
would recognize in tacit way thu
independence of the Transvaal, an6
to that extent be q reversal of ouI
position regarding the Southern Con
federacy.
Although a formal proclamation
may not be issued, strict neutralit.
will be observed, but this will no
prevent either party from purchasing
their supplies from this country
Great Britain has already contracted
for large numbers of mules and arm!
wagons, and for canned provisions
The Beers are likely to contract fo
large quantities of munitions of wa
if they can make arrangements fOl
their transportation to the Trans
vaal, now that England has shut then
off from the sea by getting control o
Lorenzo Marquee from the Portu
guese. Neutrality, if strictly OBJ
served, will prevent the enlistma0t o
men within the United States u
serve with either party.
Sir Louis Henry Davies, Canadial
Minister of Marine and Fisheries, an
nounces that he has given Canada
consent to q temporary arrangemen
of the Alaskan boundary dispute
This has practically settled the who'll
matter for the time being, as the mail
features of the arrangement are thos
originally purposed by the Unite'
States. It has taken long time t
get this matter settled, but the Ad
ministration was firm in its deter
, mination to give up none OF tn