The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-30

pllcaIlODS-
Mr. Macrum proceeded to describe
an alleged meeting between President
Steyn, of the Orange Free State. and
Consul Stowe, of Cape Town. at which
he was present. in which he said Steyn
was very anxious that Stowe should
do something to settle the difficulty
which was brewing. He said that
President Steyn suggested an appeal to
the President of the United States and
that Mr.. Stowe had replied that ne
would be glad il some such thing could
be done. And have reason to believe
that the question was submitted to
the president of the United States"
added Mr.. Macrum. ''and that he re-
turned an unfavorable reply"
What makes you say that?" in
quired Mr.. Hit.
Il was told SO by Colonel Stowe"
WAS that statement in writing?"
1T was"
Have you the letter."
No it is in the files of the Pretoria
consulate
After further questioning Mr.. Mac
rum said he might have a copy of the
letter; he could not say positively.
Subsequently he said he thought he
could produce it in a short time.
Mr.. Macrum went over the exchange
OF kilograms with the state depart
ment relative to his leave. But as
these were in the cipher of the de-
partment the committee did not call
for them. He stated that his reason
| for not making a report to the state
department on the conditions in South
Africa was that when he called on AS
sistant Secretary Hill, he said to Mr.
Hill that he understood he had been
relieved. Mr.. Hill responded that this
was true. Under such circumstances
Mr.. Macrum said, he had no report to
make to the department. He endeaVor-
ed, however, TO see the secretary Of
| state, but was told that Mr.. Hay was
! out.
After hearing Mr. Macrum, the COM
| nittee went into executive session.
| Chairman Hit presented a letter from
| Secretary Hay, giving in detail the de-
| partment's view of the subject and
this was subsequently made public.
| The committee took no action as to
making a report and it was stated by
members that there was nothing to be
| done beyond taking the testimony.
Secretary Hays letter giving the Of
! fetal view of the case is as follows in
| part:
washington, March "a. 1900.
Hon. r. r. Hit, Chairman Committee
on Foreign Affairs. House of Repre-
sentativSS:
"Sir: In response to your inquiries
! Of this morning, l have the honor to
report that up to this date, Mr.. Mac
| rum, late consul of the United States
! at Pretoria, has made no representa-
| tions to this department in regard to
/ the opening of his mail by the British
| authorities. Although without any in
! formation except the allegations of Mr..
! Macrum, to which a reference was
| made in a resolution of the house of
! representatives, making certain in
| quiries of this department, L mentioned
| the matter to the British ambassador
| who made inquiry in regard to it of
! the British government and was in
| formed in return that the British gov
! ernment was not aware of any such
| incident having taken place, but if
| anything of the sort had occurred. il
! was contrary TO the instructions of that
! government.
Il received no further information in
| regard to the matter until the 21st OF
this month, when this government was
| informed by a dispatch from Mr.. ]
G.. Stowe, consul general of the United
! States at Cape Town that: two letters
| from this consulate, one to Pretoria
! and one to LourenZo Marques, were
! opened by the censor at Durham. Unnr
| notice of this / called upon the high
| commissioner, who wired Durham. ant
a very satisfactory apology was re-
| turned
This is all the information possessed
by this department in regard to the in
cident.
In reference to certain allegation:
as to our conSulS in South Africa, hav-
! ing been approached with suggestion:
of mediation, / have the honor to re
ply that in dispatch of the 3rd of Oc
tober received at this department oI
the 9Th of November and the only ont
on our file relating to this matter Mr.
Stowe reported as follows:
Under the date of September 26tl
II tto TTrSf tod tot
sular agent at Bleemfontein, Orang'
Free State, a letter which reads a.
follows:
"I saw President Steyn this after
noon by his request and he would lik'
to have you find out at once, if your
(my) government will consent for yol
| to act as arbitrator, and If you cal
also find out if the high commissions
would also consent. The president ap
| pears to think whatever is done shoul(
be done at once, and wishes to know
If you can give him, this information
I replied by wire as follows: Will re
| ply by wire to your letter of the 26tl
| this afternoon
After giving the above reques
! careful consideration / called upon tn
! high commissioner same date and ii
| the course of conversation said: 'Whel
| / dined with you the other day yol
stated your government would neve
4 NOASSLl W Dy OulSluc pow
erS or representatives, and your pub
hshed dispatches so state. Are you o
the same opinion? and he replied
What / might like to do / cannot d,
now, as my hands are tied Then
told him in substances what 1 haC
been asked by the president Of tn,
Orange Free State and the high com
missioner said: Please state the fol
| lowing as your reply, which he dicta
ted, and which appears in the follow
ing copy Of my telegraphic dispatcl
to the United States consular agent a
Bloemfontein. in the words underlined
Capitalized here) to which I added tn
| first five words not underlined: 'Canno
ask government myself. SEEN PARTY
REQUESTED. THOUGH PERSON
! ALLY FAVORABLE TO FURTHEI
NEGOTIATIONS, THINKS HE Can
NOT MOVE ON THE LINE PRO
POSED
Believing it a courtesy due to tn
United States Consul Macrum at Pre-
toria, / sent the following dispatcl
same date: Was asked by the Ere
| State to ask if our government woul,