The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-29

he had bsen grantei leave Of absence
By Secretary Hay on November 20. He read
20 the oommittse o message from the
cable company saying cipher cable sent
By him to the secretary Of state Notem-
Der had Teen held mp BY the censor
until December 9. Asked II other con-
suls lad suffered any inconvsnienee in
the matter Of communicating with their
home governments. Mr.. Maorum said they
had.
"Did you report to the state depart
mens that your mail had been opened"
asked Mr.. Berry of Kentucky.
~ did not"
"Did you mention it upon your arrival
In WashingtonP"
81 did not"
"Whyr
81 would prefer not to answer that
question:"
This reply raised general laugh In
the room. Mr.. Adams of Psnnglvanis
then proceeded 10 GROSS question Mr..
Macrum rather severely upon the duty Of
q consul to remain at his post during
complications. Mr.. Mscrum procseded
to describe an alleged meeting between
President 6teyn Of the Orange Free State
and Consul Stowe Of Cape Town. at
which h. was present In which he said
Stsyn was very anxious that Stowe
should do something TO settle the Diff
Guilty which was brewing. He said that
President Stegn suggested an appeal to
the President of the United States and
that Mr.. stowe had replied that he was
glad II some such thing vouId be done.
Sand have reason TO bslieve that the
question was submitted to the President
Of the United States" added MIR. Maos um,
"and that he returned an unfavorable
reply"
"what makes you say thisf' inquired
Mr.. Hill.
"I was told 10 by Col. Stows."
"Was that statement In writingf
at was"
"Hsvs you the letter."
"No. IL 10 IN the tiles Of the Pretoria
consulate.
After further questioning Mr.. Macrum
said he might have q copy Of the letter;
he could not say positively. Subseque Mt
ly he said he thought he could produce
1t in a short time.
Mr.. Macrum went over the exchange
of kilograms with the stats department.
relative to his leave, but as these were
In the cipher of the department. the COM
mittee did not call for them. He stated
that his reason for not making report
to the state department on the conditions
In South Africa was that when he called
on Assistant Secretary Hill. he said to
MIR. Hill that he understood he had been
relieved. MIR. Bill responded that this
was true. Under such circumstances, Mr..
Maorum said, ne had no report to make
to the department. He endeayored, how
ever, to see the secretary Of state, but
was told that Mr.. Hay was out. After
hearing Mr.. Macrum, the committee
went into executive session. Chairman
Hitt presented q letter from Secretary
Hay, giving in detail the department
views on the subject. The committee
took no action as to making Q report,
and 1t WAS stated by members that there
was nothing 10 be done beyond taking
the testimony.
Secretary Hays lstter giving the offlc
isl view Of the case is as follows'
Warrington, March "a. $4,000.
Hon. r. h. Hit, Chairman Committee
on Foreign Affairs. House of Repressn-
tatives:
Sir-In response to your inquiries of
this morning have the honor to report
that mp to this date, MIR. Macrum, late
consul Of the United States at Pretoria.
has made no representations to this de-
partment In regard to the opening Of his
mail by the British authorities
Although without any Information ex-
cspt the allegations of Mr.. Maorum, to
which reference was made in a rssolu-
ton Of the House OF Represe ntatives,
making certain inquiries of this depart
ment, l mentioned the matter to the
British ambassador, who made inquiry
In regard to 1t Of the British government
and was informed In return that the
British government was not aware Of any
such incident having taken place, but II
ything of the sart had occurred, 1t was
contrary to the Instructions Of that gov
eminent.
received no further information In
regard to the matter until the 2lss Of
this month, when this government was
informed by dispatch from Mr.. j. q.
Stowe. consul general Of the United
States at Cape Town that 1.-TWO letters
from this consulats, one to Pretoria and
one TO Lourenzo Marques, were opened
by the censor at Durham. Upon notics
of this called upon the high oommis-
sioner who wired Durham, and q very
satisfactory apology was returned"
This IL all the Information possessed by
this department In regard to the Incident.
In reference to certain allegations as to
our consuls in South Africa, having been
approached with suggestions OF media
tion, have the honor to reply that In
despatch Of the third of October, received
At this department. on thu 9th Of Novem
Der, and the only one on our file relating
to this matter, Mr.. Stowe reported a.
followsi