The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-22
LETTERS WERE OPENED
ENGLAND DISCI4AIMS ALI.
KNOWL EDGE OF INCIDENT.
HAY ADMITS THAT MAIL WAS HELD UP
And That Thereafter It Was Sent by a 'Neu-
traI Route" Denies That Thsre is Any
Secret Alliance With Great Britain.
President Answers Too.

Washington, Feb. 21.-The answer Of
the State Department to the House Res
olution calling for information regarding
certain charges made by late Consul
Macrum. was transmitted To the House
today by the President 1t IS signed by
Secretary Hay and after recting the
resolution. says:
'Answcring the first part OF he roso-
luton: The Department Of State fas
been in regular communication ny mail
aud telegraph with Charles y. Macrum,
late Consul of the United States at Pre-
'toria. South African Republic, since his
entrance upon the duties of the Office.
Communications made TO him have been
answered and the execution of instruc-
tions sent has been reported by him.
His dispatches to the Department, for
warded through the consulate at Lou
renzo Marquee. have during that time
been regularly received. The ,nly in
stance of complaint in respect to The
transit of the mails for Lourenz0 Mar
quez and Pretoria was in November
last. when a temporary StoDpa@a of the
mails occurred ut Cape Town. against
which Mr. Macrum and the consul 1T
] I.ourenzo> protested. Arrangements, were
made for the prompt delivery Of the con-
Slllar mails to the United States Consul
General at Cape Town, by whom the
mail for Mr. Holiis and Mr.. Macrmh
was forwarded to I,ourenzo Marques.
The delay lasted but few days, and has
rot recurred. so far as the Ijepartmt nj
= Il - h. -
partments mail for Lourenzo Marques
ard Pretoria WAS sent by neutral route.
which it appears was known and open
to Mr. MacrunI and Mr. Hollis rs eagly
aS November 10th last. No obstacle,
therefore. is here known TO have existed
since then to Mr. Macrun's unhampcrod
correspondence with the Department oi
State. At no time while at his post. lid
Mr.. Macrum report to the neparii"3n:
any instance of violation by opening or
otherwise of his official mail hy The
British censor ut Durham or any person
or persons whatsoever there or else
where. Neither has he so reported since
he left Pretoria, although having tbs
amplest opportunity to do so by mail
while on the way home and in person
when he reported to the Department
upon his return.
"Answering the second part Of the
aforesaid resolutions. the undersigned,
Secretary of State. has the honor to say
that there is no truth in the charge that
Il secret alliance exists between the Re
public of the United States and the En-
pirc of Great Britain: that no form Of
secret alliance is possible under the Con
stitution Of the United States. inasmuch
As treaties require the advice and con-
sent OF the Senate. or understanding
exists between the United States and
any other nation.
(Signcd) JOHN HAY"
The Presidents message conveying
this report gave categorical answer 70
the questions embodied in the resolution
and did not refer to the action of the
Department in relation to the matter.
1t has since been given OF; at The Stare
Department that inquiries set afoot M
mcdiately after the publication Of Ma
crum's first statement, developed the
fact that the British Government had no
knowledge of any interference with the
correspondence of the C3;ted states
Consulate at Pretoria, and the additional
fact that If any interference had taken
rlacc II UrlS contrary tn in Instructions.