The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-20
THE TRANSVAAL AGENT.
Montasu White Not to he Recognized
ms KruRer's Envoy

The State Department has not received
lieve that Moptagu White, formerly agent
Of the Transvaal In London. and now in
New York. is coming to Washington In an
official capacity. Mr.. White has not COM
municated with the department. Should he
come here and call on the Secretary OF
State in a personal capacity he would be
received courteously. The matter OF any
effort on Mr. Whites part to obtain official
recognition has not, however, been consid-
cred. and will not be unless Mr.. White
raises the question. Ii is not denied that
Mr.. White would be received If properly
accredited in an official capacity, provided
the official status desired by him was not
inconsistent with the views of this Gov
eminent as to the degree of the reco 5nition
to which the Transvaal is entitled.
The United States has never recognized
the Transvaal as an independent State. No
occasion for such recognition has ever been
presented. British suzerainty over the
Transvaal has been inferentialiy acknowl-
edged through the failure of this Govern
ment to send diplomatic officer to Pre-
toria and the Beers have never sent
A Consul OF the United States resides in
Pretoria. He received his exequatur from
the Transvaal Government, and it is not
unlikely that Transvaal Consul would be
recognized by the United States. But
there is a wide distinction between con-
sular and diplomatic representation. An
officer with diplomatic functions Is an
agent of his government, empowered to
treat with another sovereign state
consurs presence In foreign coun-
try does not necessarily recognize the
sovereign independence OF that coun-
try. The reception OF Mr.. White by
the President as the diplomatic repre-
sentative OF the Transvaal would be vir-
tual recognition Of the sovereignty Of the
Boer Republic The independence Of
Texas was recognized by the Government
through the reception of minister from
that State
Should Mr. White present the credentials
of a minister or a diplomatic agent Of the
South African Republic, the question would
arise whether this Government, by recog-
MIXING him officially, would violate Its
neutrality In the present war and ignore
the previously recognized existence OF
British suzerainty over the Transvaars
foreign relations. The question is one that
cannot with prcprlety be answered now,
according to State Department officials.
They decline to express any opinion in the
matter. on the ground that 1t is mere
supposition that Mr.. White has credentials
from the South African Republic. 1t is
the understanding here that Mr.. White Is
British subject This brings up another
question-whether a subject OF one country
may properly be received as the diplomatic
representative of another country.
case somewhat analogous to that
which would be presented should Mr.
White request diplomatic recognition, is
that Of the relations between this Govern
ment and Egypt. A diplomatic agent OF
the United States. accredited to the khe-
dive. resides in Cairo. He is. however.
given diplomatic standing with the con-
sent of the British and Turkish govern
ments.
AS Great Britain has not withdrawn her
claim to suzerainty over the Transvaal,
the appearance OF Mr.. White in Washing
ton, with letters accreditins him to Presi-
dent Mckinley as diplomatic represen-
tative would cause Great Britain to raise
the point that he could not be received
officially without her consent. This con-
sent would not, Of course. be given. His
reception by the President In such cir
cumstances would be interpreted by the
British Government as an affront.