Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-02-28
no SECRET ALLIANCE.
Betwesn The Un ted States and
Great Britain.
IMPOSSIBLE UNDER CONSTITUTION.

Answer Of the Stat, Department. to tho
House RESOLUTION Asking for Inofrma-
tion as 10 tine Macrum Cha-ges-Ihe
Con<ulDid Not Report e. the state De-
PARTNER That His Ofi,ial Nail Had
Deen Tempered with by British Censor.
Washington Feb. 22.-The answer
Of the siPte department to the house
resolution calling for information re.
garding certain charges made by late
Consul Macrum was transmitted to the
house by the president. 1t Is signed
by Secretary Hay and after reciting
the resolution says:
answering the first part Of the res
olut.on: The department of state has
been in regular communication by mail
and telegraph with Charles e. Mac.
rum. late consul of the United States
at Pretoria. South African republic,
since his entrance upon the duties OF
the office. Communications made to
him have been answered and the exec
ution Of instructions sent has been re-
ported by him.
Dispatches Received Regularly.
Ellis dispatches to the department.
forwarded through the consulate at
Lorenzo Marques have during that
time been regularly received. The only
instance of complaint in respect to the
transit of the mails for Lorenzo
Marqres and Pretoria was in Novem.
Der last. when a temporary stoppage
Of the mails occurred at Cape Town.
against which Mr.. Macrum and the
consul at Lorenzo Marques protested.
60 xxvnr
prompt delivery Of the consular mails
TO the United States consul general at
Cape Town. by whom the mail for
Mr.. Hollis and Mr.. Macrum was for
waried 10 Lorenzo Marques. The de-
Inv lasted brit a few days. and has not
rpcrrred so far as the department Is
advised.
Sent by Neutral Route.
"After that time the departments
mail for Lorenzo Marques and Pre-
toria was sent by neutral route,
which It appears was known and open
to Mr.. Macrum and Mr.. Hollis as early
as Nov. 10 last. No obstacle, therefore.
ia here known to have existed since
then to Mr.. Macrum's unhampered cor
respondence with the department OF
state. At no time while at his post
did Mr.. Macrum report to the depart
ment any instance Of violation by open
ing or otherwise Of his official mail by
the British censor at Durham or by any
person or persons whatsoever, there or
elsewhere Neither has he so reported
since he left Pretoria. although having
the amplest opportunity to do SO by
mail while on the way home and In
person when he reported to the depart
ment upon his return.
No Secret Alliance Exits.
Answering the second part Of the
aforesaid resolution, the undersigned,
secretary of state, has the honor to say
that there Is no truth in the charge
that a secret alliance exists between
the republic of the United States and
the empire of Great Britain; that no
form of secret alliance Is possible un.
der the constitution Of the United
States. inasmuch as treaties require
the advice and consent of the senate;
and finally, that no secret alliance.
contention. arrangement, or under
standing exists between the United
States and any other nation.
JOHN HAY"
Unknown 70 British Government.
The presidents message conveying
the above report gave a categorical
answer to the questions embodied In
the resolution, and did not refer to the
action Of the department In relation
to the matter. 1t has since been Civ.
en- out at, the state department that
Inquiries set on foot immediately after
the publication of Macrum's first staet.
ment developed the fact that the Brit.
ish government had no knowledge OF
any interference with the correspon.
dence of the United States consulate
at Pretoria and the additional fact
that if any such interference had tax
en- place 1t was contrary to instruc'
lions.