The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-06-01
The United States Will Not Inter-
fere in War Between South
Africa and England.
THE PEACE ENJOYS ARE so INFORMED.
The Presidents Position Is An
nounccd by Secretary of State Hay
-BOer Delegates Ask for Interven-
tion-They Are Cordially Received
and Explain Their Mission.

i delegation by declining to interfere IN
behalf of the South African republics
in the present struggle. In view ofthis
announced decision, all questions as to
the character of the recognition to be
extended to the delegates and the suf-
ficiency of their credentials dropped at
once into the background. 1t was,
after all, of little moment whether or
not the Beers were received as diplo-
matte agents or ministers, so long as
they were powerless to promote the
prime object of their mission, namely,
cause the United States government to
intervene to bring about peace.
The Secretary's Statement.
"Messrs A. Fischer. C. H. Vessels and
! A. D. w. Woomarans, the delegates in
| this country of the South African repub-
| lies, called by appointment at the state
| department. They were cordially received
| and remained with the secretary of state
| for more than an hour. They laid before
| the secretary at much length and with
| great energy and eloquence the merits of
| the controversy in South Africa and the
desire of the Boer republics that the Unit
| ed States should intervene in the interest
of peace and use its influence to that end
with the British government
THE secretary of state made the follow
ing reply: The president, in his message
to the congress last December, said:
"'This government has maintained an
attitude of neutrality in the unfortunate
contest between Great Britain and the Boer
states of Africa. We have remained faith
full to the precept of avoiding entangling
alliances as to affairs not of our direct con-
Germ. Had circumstances suggested that
the parties to the quarrel would have well
coined any kindly expression of the hope
IF Ia American npOnla that might
be averted, good offices would have been
gladly rendered
GAS the war went on, the president,
while regretting the suffering and the sac
rifices endured by both of the combatants,
could do nothing but preserve strict neu-
trality between them. This he has stead
fly and consistently done, but there never
has been moment when he would have
neglected any favorable occasion to use
his good offices in the interests of peace.
On the 10th of last March we received
from Mr.. Hay, the United States consul
at Pretoria, this telegram:
" L am officially requested by the govern
ments of the republics to urge your inter-
vention with a view to cessation of HOSTILE
ties. Same request made to representatives
of European powers
Note to Great Britain.
"The president at once directed me to
convey the substance of this telegram to
the British government. and in communi-
eating this request / was directed by him
| to express his earnest hope that way to
bring about peace might be found, and to
| say that he would be glad to aid in any
friendly manner to promote so happy re-
suit. The Transvaal government was at
the same time informed of the presidents
action in the matter.
Salisbury's Reply.
"Our representative in London promptly
communicated the presidents instruction
Gil -I~, L.
quested to thank the president for the
friendly interest shown by him, and Lord
Salisbury added that her majesty's gov
eminent could not accept the Intervention
of any power. This communication also
| was Immediately transmitted to our consul
at Pretoria, to be communicated to the
president of the South African republic.
| So far as we are informed, the United
| States was the only government In the
world of all those approached by the South
African republics which rendered it's good
| offices to either of the combatants in the
| interest of cessation of hostilities.
This would seem to render any further
| action of the United States unadvisable
| under existing circumstances. The steps
] taken by the president in his earnest de-
/ sire to see an end to the strife which has
| caused so much suffering may already be
| said to have gone to the extreme limit
| permitted to him. Indeed, If in his dis
| erection he had chosen not to present to
! England the South African request for
! good offices, he might have justified his
action by referring to the following dec
| laration, which was made in the very act
| of signing The Hague convention by the
plenipotentiaries of the United States:
Nothing contained in this convention
| shall be so construed as to require the
| United States of America to depart from
| its traditional policy of not intruding up
| on, interfering with entangling itself
with questions of policy or internal admin
| istration of any foreign state; nor shall
| anything contained in the said convention
| be construed to imply a REIMBURSEMENT by
| the United States of America of its ira
! ditional attitude toward purely American
| questions
Must Remain Neutral.
1.-THE president sympathizes heartily in
| the sincere desire of all the people of the
| United States that the war which is now af-
flicting South Africa may, for the sake of
both parties engaged. come to speedy
| close; but, having done his full duty III
| preserving strictly neutral position be-
/ tween them. and in Selling the first OPP
| portunity that presented itself for tender
/ ing his good offices in the interests OF
| peace, he feels that, in the present circum-
! stances, no course is open to him except
| to persist in the policy of impartial neu-
| trality. To deviate from this would be
| contrary to all our traditions and all our
| national interests, and would lead to con-
/ sequences which neither the president nor
the people of the United States should re-
| gard with favor
Visit the President.
Washington, May 23.-President Nc
Kinley told the Boer peace commits
sioners when they called upon him
yesterday that he was unable to aid
] the South African republics; that he
| had offered the services of the United
States for mediation and that they
had been refused by Great Britain.
The ENJOYS intimated that they were
glad to feel they had friends in this
country, and then babe the president
| good-by.
| Will Visit Cities.
Washington, May 24-The Boer en-
voys have decided to visit ten or twelve
principal cities of the United States in
the interests of their cause.
| Corn for Iulfn.