The Portland daily press., 1900-05-22

fees endured by both of the combatant
could do nothing but preserve a strict
neutrality between them. This he has
stead lily 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 tenth Of last March, we re-
ceived from Mr.. Hay, the United States
consul at Pretoria, this telegram' Il
am officially requested by the govern
ments Of the rsu1blics to urge your in
tervention with view to cessation of
hostilities. Same request made to repre-
sentatives Of European powers
1.-THE President at once directed me to
convey the substance Of this telegram to
the British government and in commun-
icating this request, was directed by
him to express his earnest hope that a
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 a result. The government was
at the same time informed of the Presi-
dents action in the matter. Our repre-
sentative in London promptly communi-
Gated the Presidents instruction to Lord
Salisbury. In answer he was requested
to thank the President for the friendly
interest shown by him and Lord Sails
bury added that Her Majesty's govern
ment could not accept the Intervention
Of any power This communication also
was Immediately transmitted to our con-
sui at Pretoria to be communicated to
the President of the South African repub-
lie. 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 ten
dered its good offices to either Of the COM
batants In the interest of cessation Of
hostilities.
"As allusion has been made to The
Hague convention and as action has been
suggested, based upon that instrument,
1t may be as well to quote a phrase from
Article Ill, which states: 'P overs
stranger to the dispute may have the right
to offer good offices or mediation even
during the course of hostilities, and Ar
ticle ", which says: The functions OF
the mediator are at an end when once 1t
is declared, either by one of the parties
to the dispute or by the mediator him
self, that the means of reconciliation pro
posed by him are not accepted
"This would seem to render any fur
ther action of the United States unadvis'
able under existing circumstances.
1.-The steps taken by the President In
his earnest desire to see an end to the
strife which caused so much sufferin 9
may already be said to have gone to the
extreme limit permitted to him. Indeed,
II in his discretion, he had chosen not te
present to England the South African re-
quest for good offices, he might have jus
titled his action by referring TO the follow.
ing declaration which was made in the
very act of signing the treaty by thu
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
upon, interfering with or entangling
itself with questions of policy or internal
administration of any foreign state, MOI
shall anything contained in the said
convention be construed to imply relin
quishment by the United States of Amer
lea of its traditional attitude toward
purely American questions.
"The President sympathizes heartily In
the sincere desire of all the people of the
United States that the war now affecting
South Africa may for the sake of both
parties engaged, come to a speedy close,
but having done his full duty, in pre-
serving strictly neutral position be-
tween them and in seizing the first op
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
consequences which neither the President
nor the people of the United States could
regard with favor"
: Lord Pauncefote called at the State De-
partment, while the Beers were consult
ing with Secretary Hay. He was shown
into the diplomatic reception roo m and
there displaced General O'Bierne, who
also had been waiting to see Secretary
Hay. The ambassador was not kept long
for In the course of five minutes the Beers
left and he was admitted.
METHODISTS TAKE 10TH BALLOT.