Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-02-15
MACRUM HITS At HAY.
Said Secretary Connived to
Ruin His Character.
UNAWARE OF s.SECRET ALLIANCE. y
British Interference With His Messages
and other Facts, ii Wished to Lay
Before the State Northumberland
Himself Removed From ONCE.

WASHINGTON, Feb 15-The following
signed statement was given out by
Charles f. Macrum, former United
States consul to Pretoria:
The situation in Pretoria was such that, first,
as an official, could not remain there while my
government at home was apparently in the
dark AZ 10 the exact condition in South Africa.
Secondly, as man and citizen of the United
States. could not remain in Pretoria. sacrifc-
ing my own self respect and that Of the people
| Of Pretoria while the government at home con.
timed TO leave me in the position Of a British
consul and not an American consul. want TO
say right here that there was not single
request made of me through the department Of
state looking 10 the care of British interests in
Pretoria which | did not fulfil and report upon
according to my orders. On the other hand
American interests in south Africa were u
that condition which demanded that the dr.
partment OF state should be cognizant of them
issued statement received from the state
department that Americans must remain neu-
trail. IN the face of this Americans were con
tinually going TO the front and taking mp arms
in the cause Of the Beers / could net help but
know that many q these were citizens Of the
United States. also knew that many 81 them.
in utter despair at the apparent attitude Of orr
I own government. we're taking the oath Of al.
| legianee 70 the Transvaal republic. When at
fairs had reached that state that my wee con-
sui, Mr.. Van Ameringen, closed up his bust
ness, toek the oath Of allegiance to the repu5-
! be- and wont to the front as a Burgher. /
thought the time had come when / should
make a report Of these conditions.
/ 1t was over four weeks from the time the war
! opened before received single mail dispatch
+ from ny government, or a personal letter. The
mail for the Transvaal had all been stopped 1T
+ Cape Town by order Of the high commissioner.
When this mail was finally forwarded to me,
after Colonel Stowe, the consul general at Cape
Town. had secured its release ! had the huniil.
+ iation. a the representative of the American
/ government, Of sitting in my office IN Pretoria
and looking upon envelopes bearing the official
seai Of the American government opened and
officially sealed with st3elSer, notifying me
/ that the contents had been read by the censor
i at Dur5 looked up international law bat
+ failed Is find anywhere that enc military power
can use its own discretion as 10 forwarding the
Official dispatches Of a neutral government to
/ its representative IN a besieged country.
The mail service frl3m Delagoa bay TO Egl-
rope IVES continually interrupted by the action
/ OF British men-of-war at that port Service
was over two weeks longer than bv the west
coast, and there were continual rnnors that
/ that pert wopld be closed and communication
with the outside world entirely cut off The
cable service for the Transvaal WIS absolutely
/ cut of was privately informed by the Bel
glan and German conSuls at Pretoria that n pr
official cables in code TO their governments had
been refused hg the censor. / filed enc cable
] in The interest IF an Amerieon IN Pretoria
which MS refused absolutely by the censor n
Durham This cable I sent Il the flanee Of
Mr. Nelson, American business man IN Pre-
tor1a- She WIS on her wav 10 South Africa
+ from Buffalo, y Y. when the war broke ont
/ According 20 a letter which Mr. Nelson re
celvaa inst before the war commenced she was
fuylng her trousseaa IN Europe. The cable.
her iS-
informed Mr. Nelson that the cable had not
been sent, his brother took the oath of al
! les1anee 10 the republic and went 10 the front
But these are simply minor details
The misrepresentation which had been CO.
+ ing on before the war and after IL opened were
Of such a serious nature and would reouire
such detailed explanation that on NeTs / fled
a cable to the department in code stat
+ ing thai / wished leave Of absence IN order to
visit the STATES I SET forth in this cable that
my wee consul had enlisted in the Boer army .
4 that a Mr.. AtteThpry, al American whom /
\ had known very favorably for more than a
4 year, could take charge Of the Office until my
F return. In reply 10 this dis, catch which was
1 forwarded without any delay, received from
1 the department reply advising me thaf nv
+ presence "a Pretoria, was important to public
+ interests. On the sth I telegraphea again nc.
z knowle3cine the receipt Of the cable and adj
wishing the department that the situation WIS
not critical. thai Mr., AtteFbury was CONNIE
I tent; that my presence IN America was i'm
! poTtant-
/ No reply WIS received and wired again. on
/ the nth stating that no reply had been re-
eeivea and again urged favorable reply.
! No reply was received 10 this. On the l4th cf
! November again wired the department stat
/ ms thai could not leave without permission,
/ that would forfeit my post If the reasons
/ which uoTla msrSe 10 the department did not
f prove satisfactory. This cable was DELAYED ly
the censor uHtsl the ID Of December, when I
i had advices that Il lad Just been forwarded
On the 18th Of November ] again flied cable
stating that three Of my cables had been 11uar,-
swsrea and Stating that substitute yvdria an
swer as consul during my absence and request
ed reply.
To tfiS rS,oeires9 a reply imam eclisfevl "a 75ch
was rsdteratl0n Of the reply te my first cable
Upon receipt OF tins reply, which was on the
18th Of November, ] immediately Wrote 10 the
department accepting the refusal 10 grant my
ssave, and stating in that letter that ] would
shlde by the decision Of the department and
attempt to convey al intelligent idea for the
department : guidance on conditions there n
mail dispatches On the 4fh Of December ! re-
cedved reply from the department io my
eablegrasn ct the 18th, which. had been IN
formed two days previously, had just been FOR
warded- IT read as follows.
''Yop may come home Put Attersur-y hem
PoTaraiy In charge. Department viii send man
from here"
Tins was signed Fay. Tbereupou ] aablaa
The Gc,,s- f7nent a. follows
~ Naples
4lls @szl+..-l a. % ca The STA and Ia
be meantime prepared To 30. q few davs
lior / received a telegram from M Holis
aonsUl 81 Delagoa Say, stating thai ne had beer
Instructed 10 come 10 Pretoria &c take charge
# my office during my absence and uttil d MAN
sholld arrive from Washington Mr. EalIs
arrived an Dec. IS, and was thoroughly posted
n the routine q the Office, and ] introduced
hIm to the heads ct all government depart
ugentS and 10 Thy consular colleagues
left Pretoria the night q Dec 1G ] went
laralght n Paris. bottled the department Of
aay presence There while waiting ler the Amer
aan hae h9a,t ta sl3l Tor New York ] arrived
N Washington Ga Monday, the 9Th 81 FEEL,
raaTyz aad reported to assistant Secretary
aIl, 81 Uhe state department who officially Ia
formed aae That Secretary HaTs SON haa .,ae,u
gl,pontaa 81 7ag Tslase ana Ulat he was on his
way 10 Pretoria.
appreciated Tie SERIOUSNESS Of The s1nlli
Eio1is ia Tsnth Africa 10 tbs extent flsa1 on 1z,y
way e. NVns..ingtonl he6evtrse thai was Still