Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1900-02-22
government to It's representative. Inls
Interruption continued all the time l
remained in Pretoria.
Requests Leave of Absence.

Requests Leave of Absence.
"The Misrepresentation which had
been going on before the war and after
it opened were of such serious nature
and would require such detailed ex-
planation that ON the 9Th day of Novem-
ber filed cable to the department in
code, stating that 1 wished leave Of alb
sence in order to visit the States. 70
this l received a reply advising me that
nv presence at Pretoria was important
to public interests. Iagain wired the
department on Nov s and II, but to
these dispatches received no reply. On
Nov. IA again wired the department
stating that could not leave without
permission; that would forfeit my post
if the reasons which 1 would make to
the department did not prove satisfac-
tory. This cable was retained by the
censor until Dec. 2, when had advices
that it had just been forwarded. To
this received a reply reiterating the
!! refusal to grant leave of absence.
Agrees to Stick to His Post.
"Upon the receipt Of this reply, which
was on Dec Is, immediately wrote to
the department accepting the refusal to
grant me leave of absence and stating
that in that matter l would abide by
the decision of the department and that
I was unable to convey definite ac-
count of the conditions there by mail.
Several days later received message
saying, You may come home, signed
Hay"
Mr.. Macrum then tells of his depar-
ture from Pretoria under the impression
that he was still consul and of his ar
arrival at Washington on Feb. 5, when
he was informed that Secretary Hays
son had been officially appointed to sue
ceed him. He had expected to make
his report and be returned to Pretoria.
Continuing, he says:
"Instead Of this I found that Secre-
tary Hay did not see fit to await my
personal report and has been silent or
conniving partner to the discrediting
reports Of my official action.
Not Aware of "the Secret Alliance"
II wish to state here that when &C.
cepted my post I knew nothing Of a
secret alliance between the United
States and England and I had seen
nothing in the consular instructions
that made an American consul subject
| to the whims and caprices Of an English
military censor in Durham.
"There is not one soul who can point
to a single official act Of mine which de-
parted from the strictest neutrality.
Ny confidential dispatches to the de-
partment contained information which
| will show my sympathy for the repub.
lie, but which time will prove to be un.
biased as to actual facts.
"My acts as public official are all
| recorded at the department.. My acts
| now as private man can in no way in.
volve the public service and I simply
| feGse."
Resolution by Wheeler.
| Representative Wheeler Of Kentucky
| has introduced in the house the follow
ing resolution:
| "Whereas Charles E. Macrum, late
! consul of the government Of the United
| States at Pretoria, in the Transvaal Re-
public, over his own signature, says:
when this (his maiD was finally for
warded to me, after Colonel Stowe, the
! American consul general at Cape Town,
| had secured it's release, l had the hu-
J initiation as the representative OF the
| American government Of sitting in my
| office in Pretoria and looking upon en-.
velops bearing official seal Of the Amer.
| ican government opened and officially
| sealed with sticker, notifying me that
the contents had been read by the cen
| sor at Durham, and
| "Whereas he further states in the
same article: when l accepted my
| post as consul, knew nothing OF any
| secret alliance between America and
| Great Britain, therefore be it
Resolved by the house, that the Sec
| retary of state is directed to inform the
house Of representatives if said Charles
| +. Macrum, as consul Of the American
| government, informed the state depart
! ment that his official mail had been
opened and read by the British censor
| at Durham, and if so, what steps, If any,
| have been taken to obtain an explana.
ton and apology from the British gov
| ernment.
| "Section 2.-He is further directed to
| inform the house Of representatives
what truth there is in the charge that a
| secret alliance exists between the repub-
| lie Of the United States and the empire
of Great Britain"
The speaker referred the resolution to
the foreign affairs committee.
CHICAGO, Feb. 16.-"War with Eng
| land should be the policy of this gov
ernment," said Governor Andrew +.
Lee of South Dakota, ''if the statements
set forth in Consul Macrum's S letter are
| found to be correct"
"The action of British authorities IN
Durham in tampering with mail matter
| addressed to Mr.. Macrum is damnable," "
the governor continued, "and an out.
rage against the rights OF neutral
| powers If the facts as stated in the
letter are true the American govern.
ment instantly should call Great Brit.
ain to severe account. That may mean
another war on our hands, | know, but