The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-15

Ing statement, signed, was given out To-
night by Charles Il. Maorum, former
United States consul at Pretoria;
THE situation In Pretoria was such that,
first as an official could not remain
there while my government at home was
apparently In the dark as to the exact
conditions In South Africa: second. as Il
man and citizen OF the United States
could not remain In Pretoria, sacrificing
my own selt-respoct and that OF the people
OF Pretoria while the government at home
continued to leave me in the position OF
a British consul and not AS an American
consul want TO say right here that there
was not one single request made OF me
through the department OF state looking
10 the care of British interests in Pretoria
which did not fulnll and report upon ac-
cording to my orders. On the other hand
American interests In South Africa we're
In condition which should have com
manded attention.
II issued the statement received from
the state department that Americans must
remain neutral. In the face of this Amerl-
and taking up arms In the cause OF tho
Beers. could not help but know that
many OF these were citizens Of the United
States, also knew that many Of them
| In their utter despair at the apparent at
titude of our own government were taking
the oath OF allegiance to the Transyaal
Republic When AFFAIRS had reached the
state that my vice consul, Mr., Won
Amerlagen closed up his business, took
he oath OF allegiance TO the republic and
went 10 the front as n burgher, thought
the time had come WHOM | should make a
report OF these conditions.
1T wps over four weeks from the time
lthA war opened before received q single
mail dispatch from my government or .
personal letter. The mail had all been
stopped at capetown by order Of the hlgh
commissioner. When the mall was for
warded to me after Colonel Stowe, consul
at Capotown, had secured its releaac,
had the humiliation as the representative
Of the American government OF sitting IN
my office at Pretoria and looking upon
envelopes bearing the official seal of tb'
American government opened and ofhcloll,
sealed with u sticker notifying me that
the contents had been read by the censor
at Durham. | looked up the law, but
failed 10 ind anywhere that one might
uss his discretion In forwarding the Of
fetal dispatches Of neutral governments 10
It's representatives In bcsleged country
The mail from Dclag0a bay TO Europe
was continually Interrupted by the action
OF British men-of- war. The service wat
over two weeks longer than by the west
coast and there were continual rumors
that the post would be closed and com
munioation with the outside world cut on
! was promptly informed by the Belgian
and German consuls at Pretoria that their
official cables IN code to the government
had been refused by the censor ! hled
| one cable II the interest Of an American
In Pretoria, which was refused absolutely
| by tile censor m Durham. This cable
| sent TO the hancce OF a Mr. Nelson, al
American business man In Pretoria She
was on her way to South Africa from
| Buffalo \. y. when the war broke out
| According TO letter which Mr. Nelson
received iust before the war commenced
| she was buying her trousseau In Europe
! The cable requested her to come 10 the
cast coast. When informed Mr.. Nelson
that the cable had not been sent bis
| brother took the oath OF Allegiance 10 the
republic and went 70 the front. But these
are simply minor details. The msrepre.
senlation which had been going Oh before
She war and after Il opened were OF suel
serious nature and would require suel
detailed explanation that on the 9th III
November filed a cable to the department.
IN code stating that ! wished leave II ab.
sehce in order TO visit the States / SCI
forth in this cable that my vice consu
had enlisted IN the Boer army that ,
Mr.. Attcrbury, an American whom ! haf
known fayorabiy more than a year. coul'
take charge OF the Office until my return
In reply 10 this dispatch. which was for
warded without delay. received rspl,
advising me that my presence at Pretorii
was important to public interests on th
sth telegraphed again acknowledging tn
receipt OF the cable and saying thai !
situation was not critical that Mr. At
terbury was competent. that my presenc