The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-28
Secretary Hay
Contradicts Macrum.
Pointed Denlals to Macrum's
Statements.

or the mousse to toe state department
calling for an investigation into the
charges made by the late Consul Ma
crum was transmitted to the house
by the president 1t is signed by
Secretary Hay, and after reciting the
resolution, Gays:
Answer to the first part of the
resolution The department of state
has been in regular communication
by mail and telegraph with Charles
E Macrum. late consul of the United
States at Pretoria, South African
republic. since his entrance upon the
duties of the Office Communications
made to him have been answered and
the execution of Instructions sent
has been reported by him. His dis.
patches to the department forwarded
through the consulate at Lorenzo
Marques, have during that time been
regularly received The only in
stance of complaint in respect to the
transit of the mails for Lorenzo
Marques and Pretoria was in Novem.
ber last. in which temporary stop
page of the maiis occurred at Cape
Town, against which Mr Macrum
and the consul at Lorenzo Marques
protested Arrangements were made
for the prompt delivery of the con-
sular mails to the United States
consul general at Cape Town, by
whom the mail for Mr. Hollis and
MacTum was forwarded to Lorenzo
Marques The delay lasted few
days and has not recurred go far
as the department. is advised.
After that time the departments
mail for Lorenzo Marques aud
Pretoria was sent by a neutral
route which it appears was
known and open to Mr. Macrum
and Mr. Hollis as early as Nov
16 last. No obstacle is known to
have existed since then to Mr. Ma
crum's unhampered correspondence
with the department of state At DO
time while at his post did Mr.. Ma
crum report 10 the department an
instance of violation of by opening
or otherwise of his official mail by
the British censor at Durban or by
any person or persons whatsoever,
there or elsewhere. Neither has he
so reported since he left Pretoria. al
though having the amplest opportun-
it's to do 80 by mail while on the way
home and 10 person when be report
ed tc the department upon his
return
Answering the second part of the
aforesaid resolution, the undersigned,
secretary of state, has the honor to
say that there is no truth in the
charge that secret alliance exiss be.
tween the republic Of the United
States and the empire of Great
Britain that no form of secret
alliance is possible under the consti.
tuition of the UDited States inasmuch
as treaties require the advice and
consent of the senate No under
standing exists between the United
States and any other nation
Department of state. Feb 20. 1900.
(Signed) John Hay
The presidents message conveying
this report gave categorical answer
to The questions embodied in the re-
solution and did no. refer to the
action of the department 10 relation
to the matter 1t has since been
given out at the state department
that inquiries set on foot Immediately
after the publication of Macrum's
first statement developed the fact
that the British government had no
knowledge of any Interference with
the correspondence of the Uaited
States consulate at Pretoria, and the
additional fact that if any interfer-
ence had taken place i. was contrary
to instructions.
~ ~ n r. . Al