The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-16
A REPLY TO MACRUM.
The state Department Denies Some
of HIS Statements

c. E Macrum left Washington Wednes
day night for his home in East Liverpool
Ohio, after giving out the statement pub
nothing further TO say regarding the mat
ter. The weight Mr.. Macrum's explanation
had with the State Department may BE-
gathered from the following official state
ment issued by the Department yesterday
THE published statement of Mr..
Macrum does not appear 10 have Sc
riously disturbed the officers Of the De-
partment of State. While they do not
think il necessary TO discuss his state
ment in detail or otherwise dignity 1t
by a specific refutation. yet one Of them
stated emphatically that Mr.. Macrum
never reported to the Department the
incident upon which he lays so much
stress-that his official mail was being
regularly tempered with by the Brit
ish authorities; nor does the Depart
ment place the slightest credence in
such statements. He did. in a general
way. report that both official and pri
waite mail intended for American citizens
did not reach him punctually, and asked
that protest be made on account of
this rather arbitrary proceeding on
the part of the postal authorities. Every
report from MIR. MaSrum was carefully
studied. and, so far as the Depart
ment was able to ascertain in the stu
alton. il was learned that no unneces-
sary delay-none, certainly. beyond
what might be expected during state
of war-existed. Under these eircum-
stances naturally some delay was in
JuI ITts haT
correspondence. official or otherwise.
was ever opened. inspected. or delayed
by the British authorities, the Depart
ment does not for an instant believe
Certain 1t is that Mr.. Macrum never re-
ported il.
MIR. Macrum stated that lis vice.
consul-Mr Van Ameringen-closed up
his business took the oath Of allegiance
TO the republic and went to the front
as a burgher.
When Mr.. Ameringen applied for
appointment as Vice-Consul at Pretoria
he stated that he was born in Holland.
that his legal residence was at Pretoria,
and that he was a naturalized citizen
of the South African Republic. This
application was dated Pretoria, Novem-
Der l.. 1855
resolution lHlTouuCtu ttHttIudg ny
Wheeler of Kentucky di
reefs the Secretary Of State 10 inform
the House OF Representatives if Consul
Macrum informed the State Department
that his official mail had been opened and
read by the British Consul al Durham. and
if so, what steps, If any. have been taken
to obtain an explanation and an apology
from the British Government. He is fur
Their directed TO inform the House what
truth there is in the charge that secret
treaty exists between the Republic of the
United States and the Empire OF Great
The resolutions are based on
The published statement of Mr. Macrum.
Representative Dinsmore OF Arkansas,
Democrat. of the Foreign Affairs Commit
zee. speaking of the Wheeler resolution,
aid:
Il think the Wheeler resolution well
lined. II the statement Macrum makes is
rue grave indignity has been offered
Neutral power, and 1t is very remarkable
n view of the fact that the British inter-
sts were represented by him at the time.
I net true, 1t is but just TO Great Britain
hat Mr.. Macrum's statement be denied at
nee by Secretary Hay. / cannot see how
can be true under all the circum-
tances."