Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-28

not call for them.
Why He Made No Report.
He stated that his reason for not making
a report to the State Department on the
conditions in South Africa was that when
he called Assistant Secretary Hill he
said to Mr. Hill that he understood he had
been relieved. Mr.. Hill responded that this
was true. Under such circumstances Mr..
Macrum said he had no report to make to
the department. He endeavored, however.
to see the Secretary of State, but was told
that Mr.. Hay was out.
After hearing Mr.. Macrum. the commit
Hit presented a letter from Secretary Hay
giving in detail the departments view Of
the subject, and this was subsequently
made public. The committee took no action
as to making report, and 1t was stated
by members that there was nothing TO be
done beyond taking the testimony.
Secretary Hays Statement.
Secretary Hays letter giving the official
view of the case. is as follows:
WASHINGTON, March a. 1900
Hon. r. r. Hit, Chairman Committee on
Foreign Affairs, House of Representa-
tives.
Sir: In response to your inquiries of this
morning, / have the honor to report that
up to this date Mr.. Macrum, late consul of
the United States at Pretoria. has made
no representations to this department in
regard to the opening of his mail by the
British authorities.
Although without any information ex-
cept the allegations of Mr. Macrum, to
which reference was made in a resolution
OF the House of Representatives, making
certain inquiries of this department, l mem
toned the matter to the British ambassa-
dor, who made inquiry in regard to it of the
British government, and was informed in
rat, hat rl,1 Ty;f
not aware of any such incident having
taken place, but If anything of the sort
had occurred, it was contrary to the in
stIuctions of that government.
l received no further informd ton in re-
gard to the matter until the 2lst of this
EIcnth, when this government was informed
by dispatcn from Mr.. j. G. Stowe, consul
general of the United States at Cape Town,
that:
High Commissioner ApoIogizcs.
Two letters from this consulate, one to
Pretoria and one to Lorenzo Marques, We're
opened by the censor at Durham. Upon
notice of this / called upon the high COM
missioner, who wired Durham, and a very
satisfactory apology was returned
This is all the Information possessed by
this department in regard to the incident
In reference to certain allegations to
our consulS in South Africa having been
approached with suggestions of mediation
of the Sd of October, received at this de-
partment on the 9Th of November and the
only one on our file relating to this matter,
Mr. Stowe reported as follows: Under The
date of September 26 l received from the
United States consular agent at Bloemfon-
tein, o. F. s., letter which reads as fol-
| lows:
~ saw President Steyn this afternoon
| by his request, and he would like to have
you find out at once, if your (myt govern
| ment Will consent for you TO act as arbi,ra-
tor, and II you can also find out If the high
commissioner would also consent. The
| president appears to think whatever is done
! should be done at once, and wishes to know
| if you can give him this information.
| Consul General Stoves Efforts.
| Il replied by wire as follows: VIII reply
| by wire to your letter Of the 26th this
| afternoon
| After giving the above request careful
consideration, 1 called upon the high COM
] missioner same date. and in the course OF
conversation said: When / dined with you
| the other day you stated your government
! would never consent to arbitration by out.
| side powers or representatives, and your
published dispatches SO state. Are You OF
the same opinion?' And he replied: What
| l might like to DO cannot do now, as my
| hands are tied Then 1 told him in sub.
| stance what had been asked by the pres
| ident of the Orange Free State, and the
| high commissioner said: Please state the
| and which appears in the following COPY
| of my Geographic dispatch to the United
States consular agent at Bioemfontein, II
| the words underlined, to which | added the
| first five words not underlined: Cannot ash
| government myself. Seen party requested
though personally favorable to further ne
| gotiations, thinks he cannot move on the
| line proposed
Believing it courtesy due to the United
States Consul Macrum at Pretoria l sent
the following dispatch same date: Was
asked by the Free State to ask our govern.
ment would consent for me to arbitra te
and to see the high commissioner, and re.
Piled: Here follows the above dispatch
Dispatches sent in code.
| Il also deemed 1t right to post Consu
Macrum AS above. not only for the reason
that the Orange Free State is in his juris
diction. but for the further reason that h,
had said in communication to me of tn,
/ same date, Nothing can be done here fol
peace unless matters settled your end
Over LOCO men sent to border last night
If anything done must be quickly done: tn,
| high commissioner should do something fol
| peace
ut was a question in my mind If ough
| to take any action at all on the request o.
high commissioner afterward said to m,
that l had acted right and that he wa,
grateful at my action.
Macrum's Request for Leave.
AS you also inquired what there was oil
file in regard to the departure of Mr.. Mac
rum from his post at Pretoria 1 have th
honor to inform you that on the 7th O
November Mr.. Macrum telegraphed re
| questing leave, Permission visit America
Absolutely imperative; private and officia
business. Amerigen fighting; Attlebury
| American, takes charge. Cable quickly"
To this replied: Your presence Pretori;
| utmost Importance to public interests
| He then, on the 11th Of November, cabled
mo reply. Department will approve leav
on explanation. Imperative. Cable imme
| diately."-
The next day he cabled again: Gable re
| ceiyed. Everything quiet. Attlebury capa
BILE; experienced. Ny presence home abso
| lutely necessary"
| On the 18th he cabled once more: 'Thre
; cables requesting leave unanswered. Sub
| stitute sufficient here, but not at home
Please cable acquiescence quick. Ship sail
ing SOON
In reply to this, on the Goth of November
answered: Your presence Pretoria i'm
portant to public interests"
| On the 1st of December Mr.. Macrum one
more cabled me: mo reply. Department
will approve leave on explanation. Impera
| tive. Cable Immediately"
And again same date: Cant leave with
| ont rprmfSsfou VIII forfeit pocf ~ depa ri