The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-05-25
ARE GIVEN AN AUDIENCE BY THE SEC
RETARY OF STATE.
THEIR APPLICATION DENIED.
Ihey spend an Hour With Secretary
Hay-After Their Departure the Sec
mems Setting Forth the Reasons As
signed the Delegates Why Our Gov
ernment Cannot Interfere I'm the
Cause of Peace.

Washington, May 21.-The state de-
the coming to Washington of the Boer
delegation by declining to interfere I'M
behalf of South African republics in
the pesent struggle. In view of this
announced decision all questions as tol
the character of the recognition to be
extended to the delegates, and the suf-
fciency of their credentials dropped
at once into the back ground. 1t was,
after all, of little moment whether or
not the Beers were received as diplo-
matte agents or ministers, so long as
they were powerless to promote the
prime object of their mission: Name
ly, cause the United States govern
ment TO intervene to bring about peace.
The meeting between the delegates
and Secretary Hay was brought about
in the simplest manner. General
O'Beirne had secured from the depart
ment last Saturday promise to enter
tain any credentials that might be pre-
sented today. This morning a note
came to the state deparetmen from the
delegates, asking that they be permit
ted to present themselves at the de-
partment. a prompt acQuieScence
was returned by Secretary Hay, and at
the hour fixed, 2:3O o'clock the three
delegates appeared and were shown at
once into the diplomatic room. Sec
retary Hay, accompanied by Mr.. Bab-
COCK, mis- private secretary and StenO-
grapher entered the diplomatic room
and cordially greeted his visitors.
Just what passed between them prob
a hi yXrifl hn In for
when the meeting was over, after last
ing an hour, the Beers, in departing,
stated to a number of anxious news
paper men that they had. and would
have, nothing to say as to what hap
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
the president. Then he gave out
through his secretary the following
statement:
'fMessrs. a. Fischer, c. H. Vessels
and a. D. w. Wolmorans, the dele
gates in this country of the South Af-
rican republics, called today at the
state department They were cordially
received and remained with the secre-
tary of state for more than an hour
They laid before the secretary at
much length and with great energy
and eloquence the merits of the con-
troversy in South Africa and the de-
sire of the Boer republics that the
United States should intervene in the
interest of peace and use it's influence
to that end with the British govern
ment
The secretary of state made the fol-
lowing reply:
The president, in his message to
the congress, last December said
This government has maintained
of tU IN ha nj
innate contest between Great Britain
and the Boer states of Africa. We
have remained faithful to the precept
of avoiding entangling alliances as to
affairs not of our direct concern. Had
circumstances suggested that the par
ed any kindly expression of the hope
of the American people that war
might be averted good offices would
have been gladly rendered.
'As the war went on the president,
while regretting the suffering and the
sacrifices endured by both of the COM
batants, could do nothing but preserve
a strict neutrality between them.
This he has steadily and consistently
done, but there never has been a mo-
ment when he would have neglected
any favorable occasion to use his good
offices in the interests of jeace.'
The Secretary's answer here reviews
the request LOT intervention mdQ6 Con-
sui Hay and the other steps hereto
fore announced, ending with Lord Sal
isbury's answer to our representations
saying that her majesty's government
could not accept the Intervention OF
any power, which communication was
Immediately transmitted to the presi-
dent of the South African republic
through our consul. So far as we are
informed. the United States was the
only government in the world of al
these approached by the South African
republics which rendered its offices tC
either of the combatants in the inter
est of a cessation of hostilities.
LAS alluSion has been made TO Tht
Hague convention, and as action ha:
been suggested based upon that IN
strument, it may be well to quote
phrase from Article III, which states
Powers stranger to the dispute
may have the right to offer good office!
or mediation even during the cours,
of hostilities. and Article V, which
says: The functions of the mediato
are at an end when once it is declared
either by one of the parties to the dis
pute or by the mediator himself, tha
the means of reconciliation proposed
by him are not accepted
This would seem to render any fur
ther action of the United States unad
Visable under existing circumstances.
in his earnest desire to see an end t
the strife which has caused so mucl
suffering may already be said to hav
gone to the extreme limit permitte,
10 him. Indeed, if in his discretion
he had chosen not to present to Eng
land the South African request 70
good offices, he might have justifie
his action by referring to the followin
declaration which was made in tn
very act of signing The Hague conven
ton by the plenipotentiaries of tn
United States.
Nothing contained in this conven
ton shall be so constructed as to re
Quire the United States of America t
depart from its traditional policy, c
not introducing upon, interfering Will
or mingling itself with questions {
policy or internal administration {
any foreign state; nor shall anythin
contained in the said convention
constructed TO imply reIlnQulsnmeI
by the United States of America
its traditional attitude toward purel
American questions.