The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-29

mentioned the mat ter to the British AM
sbassador. who made inquiry in $rega %
it of the British governMen mt, anoasWsa vas
Uniformed in return that the British gov
ernment@was not aware sof any such IN
3cident having taken place, but IL anything
OF the sort had occurred, it was contrary
to the instructions OF that $government-5lS
received no further informa ton stngresarA
to the 1natter5until the 21sts OF this month
when this government vas tnforns by
a dispatch from Mr.. j. y g. StoWe, con- con-
ssul-GeneraI Of the United STATES s cape APE
Town. that two letters from this con
suIate, one to Pretoria and one to L4ooF -
.renzo Marques, were opened by the cen
sors at Durham. Upon notice Of this
called upon the high Commissioner, W no
wired Durham and a very satisfactory
apology was returned. *. a
This is all the information possessed by
this department IN regard ztp the incident.
REQUEST FOR AlEDIATION.
Ins reference to certain allegations as to
our consuIs IN South Africa having been
approached with suggestions of media ton,
/ have the honor ITO reply tnat sn dis
patch of the Sd OF October, received at
this department. on the 9th of November,
and the only one in our file relating to
this matter, Mr.. Stowe reported as fol-
lows:
4 = Under the date of September goth,
received from the United States consular
agent of Bloemfontein, o. F. S., a letter.,
which reads as follows: I saw President
Steyn this afternoon by his request, and
he would like ITO have you find out at
once, If your (nly) government will con-
sent for you to act as arbitrator, and If
you can also find out If the High Com
missioner would also consent. The Presi-.
dent appears to think whatever is done
should be done at once, and wishes to
know if you can give him this Informal
ton I replied by wire as follows: Will
reply by wire to your letter of the 26eh
this afternoon
After giving the above request careful
consideration, called upon the High
Commissioner same date, and in the course
of conversation said: When / dined with
you the other day you stated your gov
eminent would never consent to arbitra-t
ton by outside powers, or representatives,
and your published dispatches SO state.
Are you of the same opinion? And he
replied: What I might like to do i cam
not do now, as my hands aretied. Then
I told him in substance what I had been
asked by the President of the Free State,
and the High Commissioners said: Please
state the following as your reply, which
he dictated, and which appears In the fol-
lowing copy of my Geographic dispatch to
,Bloemfontein, in the words underlined,
to which I added the first five words
not underlined:
COULD NOT MOVE.
% Cannot ask government myself.
SEEN PARTY REQUESTED: THOUGH
PERSONALLY FAVORABLE TO FUR
THEIR NEGOTIATIONS. THINKS HE
CANNOT MOVE ON TIEE LIME PRO
POSED
Believing it courtesy due to United
States Consul NIacrum at Pretoria, 4
sent the following dispatch same dates
Was asked by the Free State to ask our
government would 1T consent for me to
arbitrate and to see the High Commits
sioner, and replied tHere follow the
| above dispatches sent in code)
II also deemed 1T right to post Consul
Iacrum as above, not only for the rea-
son that the Orange Free State is in his
| Jurisdiction, but for the further reason
| that he had said in a communication 10
| me of the same date: Nothing can be
| done here for peace unless matters set
| tied at your end. Over one thousand sent
to border last night. If anything is done
must be quickly done. The High Commits
| sioner should do something, for peace
lit was a question in my mind if I
ought to take any action at all on the
| request of the Orange Free State Presi-
| dent, but the High Commissioner after
| ward said to me that had acted right,
and that he was grateful at my action
LAS you also inquired what there was
| on file in regard to the departure OF Mr.
I Macrum from his post at Pretoria, have
/ the honor to inform you that on the eth
! Of November Mr.. Macrum telegraphed
| requesting leave-'Permssion visit Amer-
ca; absolutely imperative; private and
| official business. Amerigen fighting. At
tlebury, American, takes charge. Cable
| quickly.
'sTc this I replied: Your presence at
Pretoria of utmost Importance to public
| interests
NO REPLY.
"He then on the 18th of November ca
bled: No reply. Department will APP
! prove leave on explanation. Imperative.
Cable Immediately.
'*The next day he cabled again: Gable
received Everything quiet. Attlebury
| capable, experienced. My presence home
! absolutely necessary.
| son the 18th he cabled once more:
| Three cables requesting leave unanswer-
! ed Substitute sufficient here, but not at
| home. Please cable acquiesence quick.
| Ship sailing SOON.
! In reply to this on the Goth Of Novem-
| Der I answered: 'sYour presence Pretoria
| important to public interests
| On the first of December Mr. Macrum
once more cabled me: No reply: Depart
| ment will approve leave on explanation;
| impera tive; cable Immediately,
| And again same date: Cant leave
I without permission; will forfeit post If
| Department don't approve on explana-
| ton. Please reply.
! Upon this, inferring from these dis
| patches that Mr.. Macrum was in state
| Of mind which would make his services
/ in Pretoria useless, I answered on the
\ Cd of December: ~ GU may come home
| Put 1ittlebury temporarily in charge
| Department will send man from here's
| Soon after this I received several news
paper articles and letters from RESPONSE
/ bic persons asserting that AttIebury
whom Macrum wished to place temporar-
lily in charge of the Consulate, was a
! person of disreputable character. and .
| fugitive from justice. I, therefore, dl-
rected Mr.. Hollis, Consul at Lorenzo
u, II