The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29

United States Consul Macrum, at Pre-
toria, / sent the following despatch same
date; Was asked by the Free State to ask
our Government if it would consent for me
! to arbitrate, and TO see the High Com
missioner, and replied there follow de-
spatches sent in code).
Il also deemed it right to post Consul
Macrum as above, not only for the reason
that the Orange Free State is in his juris-
dictiun but for the further reason that he
had said in a communication to me OF the
same date: Nothing can be done here for
peace until matters are settled your end.
Over one thousand men sent to border last
night If anything done must be quickly
done: the High Commissioner should do
something for peace
1t was a question in nv mind il l
ought TO take any action at all on the
request of the Orange Free State Presi-
dent, but the High Commissioner. after
ward read TO me, that l had acted right
and that he was grateful at my action
As you also enQuired what there was
on file in regard TO the departure of Mr..
Macrum from his post at Pretoria. l have
the honor TO inform you that on the eth
of November Mr.. Macrum telegraphed
requesting leave
e Permission visit America. Absolutely
imperative, private and official business.
Ameringen fighting. AttleyUry, American
take charge. Cable quickly.
To this | replied:
Your presence Pretoria utmost inn
portanoe to public interests He then on
the 18th of November cabed: No re-
ply. Department will approve leave on ex-
PLANTATION. imperative Cable imme-
diately.
The next day he cabled again: Gable
received Everything quiet. Attlebury
capable experienced Ny presence home
absolutely necessary
"On the 18th he cabled once more:
Three cables requesting leave unan-
swered. Substitute efficient here but not
at home, Please cable acquiescence quick.
Snip sailing soon
In reply 20 this on the Goth OF
November 1 answered: Your presence
Pretoria important to public interests
On the LIST of December Mr.. Macrum once
more cabled me: No reply Department
Will approve leave on explanation; i'm
peratiye; cable Immediately and again
on the same date: Can't leave without
permission. viii forfeit post If depart
ment don't approve on explanation Please
reply
Upon this. inferring from these de-
spatches that Mr.. Macrum was in a state
of mind which would make his services in
Pretoria useless, | answered on the I'd of
December: You may come home. Put At
tlebury temporarily in charge. Department
will send a man from here
Soon after this | received several news
paper articles and letters from responsible
persons asserting that Attlebury whom
MIR Macrum wished to place temporarily
in charge of the consulate, was Il person
of disreputable character and fugi i've
from justice I therefore directed Mr.. Hol-
lis, Consul at Lourenco Marques, to pro-
coed at once to Pretoria aud take tempo
rary charge of the consulate until the ar
rival of Mr.. a. S. Hay, who had been ap-
pointed Consul. | am sir very truly
your obedient servant,
JOHN HAY"
1t is understood that the committee has
determined to let the matter |
drop without taking any action whatever.
The attention of the Assistant Secretary !
Of State was called last evening to the |
statement made by former Consul Macrum |
before the House Committee on Foreign |
Affairs. that in his conversation with DR.. |
Hill, in which the latter informed him
that he was not in the consular service, |
Macrum said he would then make no re-
port on the matters which brought him
home from Pretoria. DR.. Hill was disin-
clined 10 talk on the subject, but in an
swer TO direct question, he said: Mr..
Macrum told me that he would return to
at the end of the week and
make his report