Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-12
Official Announcement of the Govern
ment's Position.
NO PART In TEE FRANSVAAL DISPUTE
No Significance in Acting for Great
Britain.
NEUTR.A ASS II r E D

The following official announcement Of
the position of this government in the
Transvaal controversy was given out at
the State Department this morning:
THE President has received a large num-
ber of petitions. signed by many citizens of
distinction. requesting him to tender the
mediation of the United States to settle the
differences existing between the govern
ment of Great Britain and that of the
Transvaal. He has received other petitions
on the same subject. some Of them desir-
ing him to make common cause with Great
Britain to redress the wrongs alleged to be
suffered by the Outlanders, and especially
by Amrican citizens in the Transvaal, and
others wishing him to assist the Beers
against alleged aggression.
1T is understo TODD that the President does
not think 1t expedient to take action in
either of these directions. AS to taking
sides with either party to the dispute. 1t Is
not to be thought of. AS regards media
ton, the President has received no intima-
ton from the countries interested that the
mediation of the United States would be
acceptable, and in the absence of such in
timation from both parties there is nothing
in international rules or usages to justify
offer of mediation In the present cir
cumstances. 1t Is known that the Presi-
dent sincerely hopes and desires that hos
tilities may be avoided. but If unfortunate
" they should come to pass the efforts Of
tnlS government Will De ulreCted-dS tney
are at present-to seeing that neither our
national interests nor those Of our citizens
shall suffer unnecessary injury"
No Formal Request Made.
Up to this moment there has been no
change in the situation respecting the
United States cons,ls in South Africa: the
British government has not made the ex-
pected request to have these officials look
after British interests, and no instructions
on the subject have been sent to the con-
sulS consular gents. Notwit hStanding,
IT 10 certain that our government will un-
dertake TO do this for the British govern
ment soon the formal application is
made 1t is surmised however, that there
are reasons Of policy that make it exped-
lent for the British to refrain as long as
possible from making even such a slight
admission of the independence of the
Transvaal as would be implied by the
quest upon another nation to care for Brit
tsh interests therein.
Mark of Thorough Neutrality.
AS it is almost assured fact. however,
that ultimately the duty will devolve upon
the United States government, it may be
interesting to note, with a view of dtssi-
pating an erroneous impression that pre-
walls to certain extent. that so far from
this acceptance of the trust by our gov
ernment being indication of sympathy
with Great Britain in the pending struggle
with the African republics. the act is really
from the standpoint of international law
the very highest guarantee of thorough
neutrality. A nation undertaking in this
fashion to protect the interests of one of
the parties to within the territorial
limits of the other IS by that very act
obliged to observe the requirements of gen
uine neutrality in a degree far beyond that
imposed upon other neutral nations. Also,
to make its mission successful, 1t must
make efforts to cultivate the warmest re-
latiOns with the nation wherein 1t seeks
to exercise its good offices in the interests
Of the other party. Otherwise little could
be accomplished toward the execution of a
task imposed by the highest mandates of
international comfy and civilization.
This was strikingly exhibited in the atti-
tude of France. which, during our war
with Spain. undertook to look after Spanish
interests in the United States The French
ambassador necessarily kept in the closest
touch with the State Department here. and
IL may have been one of the benefcent re-
suits of this intimacy that he the
principal agent in bringing about the cessa-
ton of hostiities through the peace pro-
tocni. Thus in our own case our consular
agents in the Trarsvaai and the Orange
Free State may in the end be in position
10 work fo- peace.
Last Possibility of Mediation.
1t IS said by well-nformed diplomats that
lhe last possibility of mediation by the
United States between England and the
Transvaal disappeared upon the delivery
Of the Boer ultimatum. The first article of
that ultinatum was demand that the diff
forences between the Transvaal and Eng
land be submitted to arbitration. which is
exactly what the persons who would have
the United States mediate want us to urge
upon Great Britain. Therefore for the
United States TO come forward in this
role would be for it to at once take Sides
championing the Beers principal demand
and antagonizing the British position. 1t
is held that there can be no mediation
der such conditions.
Ship Not Ordered to south Africa.
Acting Secretary Allen of the Navy De-
partmeut said today that neither the Chi
cago nor the Montgomery has been ordered
to South Africa to look after American in
serests in that quarter during the expected
war, and he added that such a course of
action has not even been seriously consid-
cred. According to the officials of the State
Department, there is nothing in the situa-
tion In the Transvaal, immediate or pro-
specuve, TO show that American interests
in iGODaTQV. thai the OF