The Irish standard., 1900-01-27
tons, are unconquerable and capable OF
defeating the imperial forces OF the
arch-brigand of the nations
CONSUL HAY.A BRITISH SPY.

A strenuous effort has been made to
minimize the significance OF Consul
Hays call upon Lord Salisbury while
he was i'll London Mr.. Hay is the
young son of the secretary of state who
has been sent as American consul TO
Pretoria with view to having some
excitement and adventurous travelling.
lie is 2o years old, and he is to be i'll
trusted with the commercial interests Of
the United States in the Transvaal re-
public during the progress OF the war.
Moreover he has been designated as
custodian OF British interests there sub
lcct to the consent of President Kru-
ger, says our esteemed contemporary,
the Boston Republic.
MIR. Hay went from Washington to
London on his way to his post OF duty
While in London he had an interview
with the prime minister Just imagine
1T! A consul of the United States on
MS way to country to which he is
accredited is granted an audience by
the responsible ruler of the British en-
pire! But we are told that it was a
social call, and that no mention was
made of the Transvaal war or the COM
pllcations which it is causing. Is it
the custom of the prime minister to re-
ccive American consuls in a social way?
10 what other commercial representa-
tive or agent of the United States has
he accorded this honor? When did he
receive the consul-general of the United
States at London, or the consul-general
at Paris, Berlin, Cairo, or any other
capital?
But, we are told, the young man
called to pay his respects and to convey
the friendly feelings of his father to the
prime minister. We have an ambassa-
dor in London for that purpose. He is
paid $17,5oo a year for assuring her
majesty's government at stated times
of the cordial sentiments which Mr..
Hay entertains toward them. Why
should an obscure consul be deputed to
convey these assurances?
The fact is Mr.. Hay was sent to Lon
don for additional instructions. He is
deputcd to act as British consul at
Pretoria, and he called upon the British
prime minister to ascertain what his
duties were to be. This conduct is TN
precedented. When the representative
OF neutral power undertakes to look
alter the interests Of belligerent at the
capital OF country with which the bel
ligerent is at war, he does so in a spirit
OF the strictest neutrality. He does it
as an act OF courtesy, and he receives
no instructions except from his own
government. His relations are of the
most delicate nature, and require the
exercise Of the utmost tact to prevent
even the semblance of bias. Young Mr..
Hay goes to Pretoria as an agent of the
British government Practically he is
British spy. England is not entitled to
diplomatic or commercial representa-
ton at the capital of the Dutch repub-
lie. But she secures it in a dishonest,
underhand way through the subservi-
ency OF the Washington government.
| Rumors have come to the effect that
President Kruger may deny to Mr. Hay
the privilege of serving as British repre-
sentative at his capital, and who would
blame him if he did? What would
Americans think if M. Cambon, who
represented Spain at Washington dur
ing the war, had gone to Madrid for
private and special instructions
before taking up the delicate
work which the assumption OF
the duty put upon him? All communi-
cations from the Spanish government
to him were sent to Paris and transmit
ted to M. Cambon by. the secretary for
foreign affairs. But Mr.. Hay went di-
rectly to London, had conference with
the prime minister and set out at once
for his post. In their desire to show
their friendship for the mother country
Mr. Mckinley and his secretary of state
are giving an exhibition of opera bouffe
diplomacy that would be intensely
amusing if it were not so subversive of
the settled principles OF international
relationship and good faith.