New-York tribune., 1900-05-22
BOER REQUEST REFUSED
THE UNITED STATES WILL
NOT INTER TENE.
ATTITUDE OF THE ADMINISTRATION
EXPLAINED TO THE ENJOYS BY
SECRETARY HAY
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

pleted their mission to the United States so far
as this Government is concerned, in an hours
Call on Secretary Hay at the State Department
this afternoon. They asked for the intervention
of the United States to end the war in South
Africa, and were speedily convinced that the
United States for excellent reasons. de-
barred from the desired undertaking.
Secretary Hays statement in reply to the rep
reservations made by the delegation showed
that this Government had demonstrated it's
friendiness to the South African republics by
standing alone in Its efforts to bring about peace
some time ago. and had at that time exhausted
its good Offices. though always being in a posi-
ton of welcoming a concurrent request from
both sides for It's mediation.
The ENJOYS have, therefore. nothing more to
gain in Washington. They presented no creden-
tias to-day. and after what has now occurred
officially 1t would be superf1uous for them to
apply for diplomatic recognition
They came to the state Department at 2:3o
O'Clock by appointment. and were received in the
diplomatic room. The meeting between the dele
gates and Secretary Hay was brought about in
the simplest manner. General O'Beirne secured
from the Department last Saturday promise
to entertain any credentials that might be pre-
scnted to-day. This morning note came to
the State Department from the delegates ask
ing that they be permitted to present them
Secretary Hay, and 2:3O o'clock was fixed for
the meeting At that time the three delegates
appeared. They were unaccompanied, and Will
lam Gwinn, the Secretary's messenger. having
been so instructed, showed the callers at once
into the diplomatic room. Secretary Hay, ac-
companied by Mr. Babcock. his private secre-
tary and stenographer. entered the room and
cordially greeted his visitors. Just what passed
between them will probably never be exactly
known, for when the meeting was over the
Beers in departing said to number Of anxious
newspaper men that they had and would have
nothing to say to what happened.
STATEMENT BY SECRETARY HAY.
The Secretary of State was more communica-
tive but before making any statement went to
the White House and consulted the President
Then he gave out, through his secretary, the
following statement:
Messrs A Fischer c. NJ. Vessels and A d. W.
WoImarans the delegates in this country or the
South African republics. called to-day by ap-
pointment at the State Department They were
Cordially received, and remained with the Secre-
tary of State for more than an hour. They lafd
before the Secretary at much length ana Win
great energy and eloquence the merits OF the
controversy in South Africa and the desire OF
the Boer republics that the United states shoulu
intervene in the inter st of peace and use its IN
fuence to that end with the British government
The Secretary of State made the following re-
ply
The President in his message to Congress last
December, said:
This Government has maintained an attitude OF
neutrality in the unfortunate contest between
have remained faithful 70 the precept % OF & avGlqng l
enJangg aanGes aS 10 sgesed De o that the
parties TO the quarrel would have welcomed any
people people that war might be averted good Offices
would have been gladly rendered
AS the war went the President, while
GREETING the suffering and the sacrifices endured
by both of the combatants could do nothing but
preserve strict neutrality between them. This
he has steadily and consistently done. but there
never has been a moment when he would have
neglected any favorable occasion to use his good
Offices in the interests CT peace.
on March 10 last we received from Mr.. Hay,
the United States Consul at Pretoria. this teie-
gram:
I officially reauested by the Governme9ts Iits of
the % 2 Of Ff Gat same made
to representatives of European Powers.
THE TENDER OF GOOD OFFICES.
The President at once directed to convey
the substance of this telegram TO the British
Government, and in communicating this request
| was directed by him to express his earnest
hope that way to bring about peace might be
foI1nd and 20 say that he would be glad TO aid
In any friendly manner to promote so happy an
end. The Transvaal Government was at the
same time informed of the Presidents action in
promptly communicated the Presidents instruc-
ton to Lord Salisbury In answer he was re-
interest shown by him. and Lord Salisbury
added that Her Majesty's Government could not
accept the intervention Of any Power This COM
nunication also Immediately transmitted to
our Consul at Pretoria, To he communicated to
the President Of the South African Republic. 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 rendered it's good offices 10 either Of the
comhatants in the interest of cessation OF hos
tilities.
hoo, tod a-a1
upon that instrument it may be well to quote
phrase from Article Ill which states:
powers stranger to the dispute may have the
right to offer good offices or mediation even dur
ing the course of hostilities." and Article V,
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
himself. that the means of reconciliation pro
posed by him are not accepted" This would
seem 20 render any further action of the
United States unadvisable under existing cir-
cumstances
NO FURTHER STEP POSSIBLE
The steps taken by the President in his earnest
desire to see an end TO the strife which caused
much suffering may already be said TO have
gone to the extreme limit permitted to him. In
deed if IN his discretion he had chosen not 10
present to England the South African request
for good offices he might have justified his ac-
tion by referring TO the following declaration.
which made in the very act of signing The
Hague Convention by the plenipotentiaries of
the United States:
Nothing contained IN this convention Silali De SO
construed as 10 require the United States of
America 10 depart from its traditional policy OF
not intruding upon interfering with OF entangling
itself with questions of policy or internal admin
istration any foreign State; nor shall anything
contained in the said convention be construed to
imply relinqulshment by the United States OF
America of Its traditional attitude toward purely
American questions.
The President sympathizes heartily in the sim
cere desire of all the people of the United States
that the war aficting South Africa may.
for the sake of both parties engaged. ccme to
sneedY close; but. having done his full duty in