The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-22
UNABLE TO INTERVENE.
WILL MAINTAIN SIalClEsT NEUTRALITY
tins Already interccdcd with EN-
ginnd aud WAS Politely, hut Firm
ly Turned Down by Salisbury.


gates by declining to interfere in behalf |
OF the South African republics in the
present struggle, In view OF this an
nounced decision all questions as to the |
character OF the recognition to be extended |
TO the delegates and the sufAcency OF I
their credentials dropped at once into |
the background. 1t was, after all. OF lit !
tie moment whether or not the Beers were |
received as diplomatic agents or minis |
tiers, SO long as they are powerless to pro- |
mote the prime object of their mission,
namely: cause the United states govern
ment TO intervene to bring about peace,
The meeting between the delegates and
Secretary Hay was brought about in tho
simplest manner General o'Bierne had
secured from the department last sat
/ urday a promise to entertain any pro-
posals that might be presented TO-DAY.
! This morning a note came to the state
department from the delegates asking
| that they be permitted TO present them
! selves to the department. \ prompt ae-
| quiescence was returned by Secretary Hay
| and the hour of 2:30 was fixed for the
! meeting At that time the three dele
gates appeared. They were unaccompahled
and were shown at once into the dipio-
/ matte room Secretary Hay. accompanied
| by Mr. BabcOck his private secretary ana
stenographer, entered the diplomatic
room and cordially greeted his visitors
Just what passed between them probably
will never be exactly known, for when the
meeting was over. after lasting one hour,
the Beers in departing stated 10 number
of anxious newspaper men that they would
have nothing to say as to what had nap
pened.
For his part the secretary OF state was
more communicative. but. before making
any statement made his way to the White
House and consulted with the president
Then he gave out, through his private
secretary, the following statement:
''Messrs. A. Fischer C. II. Vessels and
A. D. w. Wolmerars, the delegates in tn s
country Of the South African republics,
called today by appointment at the state
department. They We're cordially received
and remained with the secretary OF state
for more than an hour. They laid be-
fore the secretary at much length and
with great energy ard eloduepce the
merits OF the controversy in South Africa
and the desire OF the Buer republics that
the United States should intervene in
the interest OF peace cad use its iniluen
to that end with the British government
'~The secretary Of state made the fol-
loving 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 me
Boer states OF Africa We have remained
: faithful to the precept OF avoiding en-
tangllng alliances as 10 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 othe American PEG.
ple that war might be averted, good
Offices could have been gladly rendered.
n "As the war went on the president
while regrettlng the suffering and tho
sacrifices endured by both of the COM
batants, could do nothing but preserve a
strict neutrality between them This ne
! has steadily and consistently done, but
there never has been a moment when lie
2 would have neglected any favorable oc-
! CASTOR to use his good offices in the in-
: terests OF peace.
"On the 10th OF last month we received
! from Mr. Hay, the United States consul
at Pretoria this telegram;
. 4 am officially requested by the gov
8 ernments OF tho republics to urge your IN
! tervention with view to cessation OF
hostiltles. Same request made 10 rep
resentatives OF European powers
e 1.-The president at once directed me 20
a convey the substance OF this telegram to
The British government, and in communl-
Q eating this request ! was directed by him
2 TO express his earnest hope that a way to
= bring about peace might be found, ana ia
L say that he would be glad 10 aid in any
a friendly manner TO promote SO happy a
:, result The Transvaal government was NJ
the same time informed OF the president s
action in the matter. Our representative
r. in London promptly communicated the
) presidents instruction 10 Lord Salisbury
2 In answer he was requested to thank the
TO- he frinndlv Int ghONr
by him and Lord Salisbury added thai hei
10 majesty's government could not accep
II the intervention Of any power. This com
n munieation was also Immediately trans
., mitted 70 our consul at Pretoria, to b
9 communicated to the president of tn
South African republic. So far as we ar
{. informed the United States was the onl
government in the world, Of all whcl
rendered it's good offices to either OF tn
,r oombatants In the interest OF cessation q
" hostilites.
" IAN illustration had been made to Tn
II Hague conference, and as such action ha
"a been suggested based on that nsirumeni
g 1t may be as well 10 quote phrase fror
y. article ILL., which states:
~ " Powers strangers to the dispute ma
have the right to offer good offices or me
diation even during the course OF hostIli
ties, and article v. which said: III
functions az the mediator are al an en-
Y
the parties to the dispute or by ne medi
ator Itself that the means Of reconcilia
I'd tIon proposed BY him are not accepted
MT This would seem TO render any furthe
,p action Of the United States unadvsabl
II under existing circumstances.
~ The steps taken by the president |
y. his earnest desire to see an end TO III
10 sErife. which has caused TO much suffer
ing. may already be said to have gone
the extreme limit permitted 10 him. II
deed In his discretion. II he had chose
not 10 present to England the South Afr
can request for good Offices he might hay
justified his action. by referring to tn
&c following declaration which was made
the very act Of signing The Hague conyeI
tion by the plenipoteniaries OF the Unite
States:
NJ Nothing confirmed In this conyentic
'e, Shall be so construed as TO require n
lah Urcted states OF america 10 depart fro
it's traditional policy, not lntrudinK upo
interfering With or entangling Itself wit
oueaions Of policy or Internal ADMINISTERS
30 Mon Of foreign States; nor shall any art
~, Gle contained in the said convention !
~ construed 70 Imply q reiinquishment
ie- the United States Of America Of It's ri
his ditsoral altitude toward purely America
a. 49,