The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-22

this country Of the South African repub-
lies, called today by appointment at the
state department. They were cordially
received, and remained with the secre-
tary of state for more than an hour
1hey laid before the secretary of state at
much length, and with great energy and
eloquence, the merits of their contro-
versy in South Africa, and the desire OF
the Boer republics that the United States
should intervene in the interest of peace,
and use its influence to that end with the
British government.
The secretary of state made the fol-
lowing reply: The president, in his mes
sage to the congress last December, said:
This government has maintained an
attitude of neutrality in the unfortunate
, contest between Great Britain and the
Boer states of Africa. We have remain
ed faithful to the precept of avoiding all
entangling alliances as to affairs not of
our direct concern. Had circumstances
suggested that the parties to the quarrel
would have welcomed any. kindly express
sion of the hope of the American people
that war might be averted, good offices
would have been rendered.
AS the war went on the president,
while regretting the suffering and sac
riices endured by both the combatants,
could do nothing but preserve a strict
neutrality between them. This he has
steadily and consistently done, but there
never has been moment when he would
have neglected any favorable occasion To
use his good Offices in the interests of
peace.
PLEA FOR PEACE.
ION the 10th of last March we received
from Mr.. Hay, United States consul at
Pretoria this telegram:
I am officially requested by the gov
ernments. of the republics to urge your
intervention with view to cessation of
hostilities. Same request made to repre-
sentatives of European powers.
''The president at once directed me to
convey the substance of this telegram to
the British government, and in communi-
eating this request 1 was directed by him
to express his earnest hope that a way
to bring about peace might be found, and
to say that he would be glad to aid in
any friendly manner to promote so hap
py result. The Transvaal government
was at the same time informed of the
presidents action in the matter.
Our representatives in London prompt
ly communicated the presidents instruc-
tions to Lord Salisbury. In answer he
was requested to thank the president for
the friendly interest shown by him, and
Lord Salisbury added that Her Majesty's
government could not accept the inter
Ventton of any power. This eommunica-
tion also was Immediately transmitted to
our consul at Pretoria, to be communicat-
ed to the president of the South African
Republic. So far as we are informed the
United States was the only government in
the world of all those approached by the
South Africa republics which rendered It's
good offices in the interest of a cessation
Of hostilties.
HAGUE CONFERENCE.
IAN allusion had been made to the
Hague conference, and as action had been
suggested based upon that instrument, it
may be as well to quote a phrase from
Article III, which states:
Powers stranger to the dispute may
nave the right to offer good offices or
mediation during the career of hostilities'
and Article ", which says: The func-
tions of mediator are at an end when only
1t is declared either by one of the parties
to the dispute or by the mediator himself
that the means of reconciliation proposed
by him are not accepted
This would seem to render any further
action of the United States unadvisable
under existing circumstances
THE steps taken by the president in his
earnest desire to see an end to the strife !
Which has caused so much suffering may
already be said to have gone to the ex- 1
treme limit permitted to him. Indeed, if |
in his discretion, he had chosen not to
present to England the South African re-
quest for good offices, he might have justi-
fed his action by referring to the follow
Ing declaration, which was made in the
very act of signing The Hague conven-
ton by the plenipotentiary:
Nothing connected in this convention
snail be so construed as to require the
United States of America to depart from
Its traditional policy of not intruding
upon, interfering with, entangling it
self with questions Of policy or fnterna-
be construed to imply relinquishment by
the United States of America of its ira
dit1onal attitude toward purely American
questions.
THE president sympathzes heartily in
the sincere desire of all the people of the
United States that the war which is now
affecting South Africa may, for the sake
of both parties engaged, come to speedy
close; but, having done his full duty in
preserving strictly neutral position be-
tween them, and in seizing the first op-
portunity that presented itself for tender
ing his good offices in the interests of
peace, he feels that, in the present cir
cumstances, no course is open to him ex-
cept to persist in the policy of impartial
neutrality"
Lord Pauncefote called at the state de-
partment while the Beers were consulting
with Secretary Hay. The ambassador
was not kept long, for in the course of
five minutes the Beers left and he was
admitted to see the secretary.
TO SEE THE PRESIDENT.
The Boer representatives will be re-
ceived by the president at the White
house at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Their visit to the executive mansion was
arranged for them by Secretary Hay,
during their call at the state department.
this afternoon. The call, it is understood,
will be entirely unofficial in character as
the ENJOYS have not yet presented to the
officials here the credentials with which
they are accredited. Nor do they state
positively just when these credentials
are to be laid before this government.
The ENJOYS express their disincInation
to discuss what will be their future
course now that the United States govern
ment has made known officially its inten-
ton not to interfere in the South African
dispute.
EIGHT-HOUR BILL PASSED.