The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-29

this information" replied by wire as
follows: "Will reply by wire to your let
ter of the 26th this afternoon
after giving the above request care
full consideration l called upon the high
commissioner same date and in the course
of conversation said: When / dined with
you the other day you stated your gov
eminent would never consent to arbitra-
tion by outside Powers or representatives
and your published dispatches so state.
Are you of the same opinien?' and he re-
Piled What 1 might like to do ] cannot
do now as my hands are tied Then |
told him in substance what ! had been
asked by the President Of the orange
Free State, and the high commissioner
said: Please state the following your
reply, which he dictated, and which APP
pears in the following copy of my tele-
graphic dispatch to the United States
consular agent at Bloemfontein, in the
words underlined, to which I added the
first five words not underlined:
Cannot ask government myself. Seen
party requested. Though personally fav
orable to further negotiations thinks he
cannot move on the line proposed Believ-
ing il a courtesy due to United States Con-
sui Macrum a Pretoria I sent the fol-
lowing dispatch same date: Was asked
by The Free State 20 ask if our govern
ment would consent for me to arbitrate
and to see the high Commissioner and re-
Piled CHere follows the above dispatches
sent in code)
II also deemed it right to post Consul
Macrum as above, not only for abe rea-
son that the Orange Free State is in his
jurisdiction, but for the further reason
that he had said in a communication of
the same date: Nothing can be done here
for peace unless matters settled your end
over 1000 men sent to border last night;
the high commissioner should do some
thing for peace
"Ir was question in my mind if I ought
to take any action at all on the request
of the Orange Free State President. but
the high commissioner afterward said to
me that 1 had acted right and that he was
gratifed at my action"
As to Macrum's Departure.
GAS you also inquired what there was
on file in regard to the departure of Mr.
Macrum from his post at Pretoria I have
the honor to inform you that on Nov. z
Mr.. Macrum telegraphed requesting leave
permission visit America. Absolutely
imperative, private and official business.
Amerigen fighting; Attlebury, American
takes charge. Gable quickly
ITO this 1 replied: Your presence Pre-
toria utmost Importance to public inter-
ests.'
He then. on the 18th November. ca
bled: No reply. Department will approve
leave on explanation Imperative. Gable
Immediately
1.-The next day he cabled again: Gable
received. Everything quiet Attlebury
capable. experienced. My presence home
absolutely necessary
ION the 18th he ca led once more: Three
cables requesting leave unanswered. Sub
stitute sufficient here but not al home
Please cable acquiescence quick. Ship
sailing SOON
I'm reply to this on Nov. %. 1 answered:
Your presence Pretoria important to
public interests
ION Dec. l Mr.. Macrum once more ca
bled me:
B." No reply. Department will approve
leave on explanation. Imperative Gable
Immediately
"And again same date:'Can't leave with
out permission will forfeit post if depart
ment don't approve on explanation.
Please reply
Upon this, inferring from these dis
patches that Mr.. Macrum was in state
of mind which would make his services in
Pretoria useless. I answered on the second
of December: You may come home Put
Attlebury temporarily in charge. Depart
ment will send man from here
Soon after this / received several news
paper articles and letters from RESPONSE
BILE persons asserting that Attlebury,
whom Macrum wished to place temper
arily in charge Of the consulate, was a
person of disrcputable character and a
fugitive from justice. therefore directed
Mr.. Hollis, consul at Lorenzo Marquee to
proceed at once to Pretoria and take tenn
porary charge of the consulate until the
arrival of Mr.. A. S. Hay, who had been
appointed consul.
II am. sir. very truly your obedient ser
want. John Hay"