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

Intervention.
Washington, March 28.-Charles E.
Macrum, of East Liverpool, Ohio, the
American ex-consul at Pretoria, ap-
peared before the house foreign af-
fairs committee today and told of the
alleged indignities he suffered at the
hands of the British during his incum-
bency.
He was asked by Chairman Hit to
make such statement as he saw fit re-
garding the opening of his mail by
the British censor. He explained that
when he asked for a leave of absence
he desired to come home for private
business reasons and also because ne
desired to place before the United
States government certain facts which
he deemed il essential should be
known here. He understood, he said,
that the British had possession of our
cable cipher. He was not certain of
this, but he had since had information
which convinced him that his suspic-
ions were correct.
He also desired information as to
his course when the settlement came
at the end of the war. Further, he
had a petition from some American
residents in the Transvaal asking that
the United States maintain absolute
neutrality, which he wanted to pre-
sent to the state department. The pc
tition he read to the committee 1t
was signed by Gordon. tte consular
agent at johannesburg.
Asked as to when he was first sat
isfied that his mail was being tamper-
ed with he said that war was declared
October 18th He did not receive any
mail between that date and the sec
ond week in November. Ordinarily he
had a box Of mail every week.
Did other people receive mail dur
ing that period?" asked Mr.. Williams,
of Mississippi.
Not. that I know Of" replied Mr..
MacFum
Pressed for specific information as
to how he got the intimation that the
British were opening and delaying his
mail he replied that when his mail did
not arrive he telegraphed our consul
at Lourenzo Marques requesting him
to inquire of Cape Town why it was
being delayed The consul at Louren-
20 Marques replied that he also had
had no mail.
Mr.. Macrum said the delay of his
that the British authorities were re-
sponsible. The first actual evidence
he had was the receipt of two opened
letters He produced the envelopes
which he said contained those letters.
One was from a private citizen ad-
dressed to the United States consul at
Pretoria and the other was to him by
name from Consul Stowe, at Cape
Town.
Mr.. William Alden Smith, of Michi-
gan. interrogated the witness sharly
on the reasons for stating his belief
that the British authorities had pos
session of the state departments ci-
pher.
Mr.. Macrum said he could not af-
firm that fact from actual knowledge
but there were certain facts which
convinced him that such was the case
He explained that on November 9Th
he had cabled the state department in
cipher asking for a leave of absence.
That message had gone through Dur
ban. The next day, November Ith
he said he had been informed a news
paper at Durham printed the fact that
he had asked for leave of absence.
Mr.. Smith was proceeding to interro-
gate Mr. Macrum as to the character
of the code used by him in this dis
patch, especially as to whether he had
used what was known as the Slater
code, a common code purchaSable any
where.
Mr.. Hit thought it improper tc
touch the matter of the codes employ
ed by the government, but it was final
ly agreed that no harm could come
from a direct reply as to whether the
Slater code was used.
The message" said MIR. Aacrum
was sent in the state department
code, the cipher Of the Slater code"
And you claim the substance oi
that dispatch was made public?" ask
ed Mr. Smith.
-I do
Where?"
In Natal
Was it an accurate publications.?
II do not know"
Mr.. Macrum said he had never seeI
the publication. He had only beer
informed that the fact that he hat
asked leave of absence had beel
printed. He affirmed that no one knew
OF this fact save himself.
At this point. Mr.. Howard. OF Geor
gia, interposed to question the utilit.
of the examination of Mr.. Macrum. Il
looks to me-" said he, like an effor
to ooneoct a sensation out of nothing.
But the committee decided to pro
ceed and in reply to some question:
from Mr.. BurleSon, Mr.. Macrum stat
ed that he had been granted leave o
absence by Secretary Hay on Novem
ber 18th. He read to the committee
message from the cable company, say
ing a cipher cable sent by him to tn
secretary Of state. November 14th hat
been held up by the military censo
consals had suffered any inconveni
enee I'm the matter of communicating
with their home governments, Mr.
Maerum said they had. The Belgian
and German consuls both told hin
that no cipher kilograms were allowed
to go through.
Did you report to the state depart
rneHt that your mail had been opened?
asked Mr.. Berry, of Kentucky.
IT did not"
did you mention it upon your arri
val in Washington"
''I did not"
Why"
Il would prefer not to answer tina
question" This reply raised a genera
laugh in the committee room.
Mr.. Adams, of Pennsylvania, the
rroceeded to cross question Mr.. Mac