Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-05-24
TO MEET M'KINLEY
BOER VISITORS AND PRESIDEN
TO EXCHANGE COURTESIES.
AT WHITE HOUSE TODAY
But State Department Refuses to Re
ceive Them as Official Representa-
tives and President VIII Take No
Further Action Hague Provisions
Quoted.

Quoted.
Washington, May 22.-rhe state de-
partment has met.the issue raised by
the coming to Washington of the boer
delegation by declining to interfere in
behalf of the south African republics
in the present struggle In view of
this announced decision all questions
as to the character of recognition to
be extended to the delegates, and the
sufciency of their credentials
dropped at once into the background
Yesterday a note came TO the state
department from the delegates asking
that they be permitted to present
| themselves at the department At
the time fixed for the meeting the
three delegates appeared and were
shown at once into the diplomatic
room. Secretary Hay, accompanied
| by Mr.. Babcock, his private secretary
and stenographer, entered the diplo-
matte room and cordially greeted his
visitors When the meeting was over,
| after lasting half an hour, the beers
| stated to a number of newspaper men
that they had nothing to say as to
| what happened The secretary of
state after consultation with the pres
| ident gave out a statement in which
he said the boer ENJOYS presented at
much length and with great energy
and eioquence the merits of the con-
troyersy in south Africa and the de-
sire of the boer republics that the
United States should intervene in the
interest of peace and use its influence
to that end with the British govern
ment. Secretary Hay in reply re-
viewed the facts of the presidents
communication with the British gov
eminent in response to the request Of
the United States last March and the
! reply Of Lord Salisbury that her mai
/ esty's government could not accept
the intervention of any power. Sec
rotary Hay also quoted to the ENJOYS
article of the Hague conference
which says "The functions of the
mediator are at an end when it is
once declared, either by one of the
parties to the dispute or by the medi-
alor himself that the means Of recon
citation proposed by him are not
accepted"
The secretary Of state continued:
This would seem to render
any further action of
the United States unadvisa-
5le under existing circumstances. The
steps taken by the president in his
earnest desire TO see an end to the
strife which has caused so much suf-
fering may already be said to have
gone to the extreme limit permitted
to him. Indeed, if in his discretion he
had chosen not to present to England
his request for his good Offices, he
might have justified his action by re-
ferring to the following declaration Of
the Hague convention Nothing con
tanned in this convention shall be so
| construed as to require the United
States Of America TO depart from its
traditional policy Of not intruding up
on, interfering with, or entanging it.
self with the persons, policy or inter-
nal administration of any foreign
state. nor shall anything contained in
said convention be construed 20 imply
REIMBURSEMENT by the United States OF
America Of its traditional attitude TO
ward purely American questions.
The president sympathizes heartily
in the sincere desire Of all the people
Of the United States that the war which
is now affecting south Africa may. for
the sake Of both parties engaged. come
/ to a speedy close, but, having done his
full duty in preserving a strictly neu-
! ral position between them In Selling
the first opportunity that presented #
self for rendering his good Offices In the
! interests Of peace. ne feels that 10 the
present circumstances no course is open
to him except TO persist in a policy OF
/ impartial neutrality To deviate from
/ this would be contrary to all our tradi-
tions, all our national interests and
would lead to consequences which
neither the president nor the people
should regard WITH favor
The b0er representatives viii be re-
ceiyed by the president at the white
house az 10 o'clock today The call. it
is understood will be entirely unom-
cial In character. as the ENJOYS have
not yet presented 10 the officials here
the credentials with which they are ac.
credited