The Portland daily press., 1900-05-22
CAN DO NOTHING.
Boer Delegates Turned
Down.
Kindly Received by
State Dept.
But Told That No Interference Is
Possible.
United States Will Re-
main Neutral.
Secretary Hay Makes Statement
Through Press.
Secretary Hay Makes Statement
Through Press.

Washington, May Sl.-Ine Ctate Ot-
partment has met the issue raised by the
coming to Washington Of the Boer dele
ga tion by declining to interfere In behalf
of the South African republ les in the
present struggle. In view of this an
nouncement all questions as to the char
acter of the recognition to be extended to
the delegates and the sufiiciency OF their
credentials dropped at once into the
background 1t was, after all OF little
moment whether or not the Beers We're
received as diplomatic agents or minis
tiers, SO long as they were powerless to
promote the prime object of their mission,
namely 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 'Bierne had
secured from the department last Satur-
day, promise to entertain any creden-
tials that might be presented today. This
morning note came to the state depart
ment from the delegates, asking that they
be permitted TO present themselves at the
department. A prompt acquiesccnce was
returned by Secretary Hay and ut $50
the three delegates appeared. They were
unaccompanied and William Gwynn, the
secretary's messenger, having been SO In
structed, showed the callers at once into
the diplomatic room. Secretary Hay, ac-
companied by Mr.. Babcock, his private
secretary and stenographer, entered the
diplomatic room and cordially gree ted
his visitors. Just what passed between
them win probably never be exactly
known for when the meeting was over,
after lasting an hour, the Beers in de-
parting stated to q number Of anxious
newspaper 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 be-
fore making any statement, made his
way to the White House and consulted
with the President. Then he gave out
through his secretary the following state
ment:
Messrs. A. Fischer, G. NJ. Vessels and
Mr.. A. d. W. Wolmarans, the delegates
in this country of the South African re-
publics, called today by appointment at
the State Department. They We're cor
daily received and remained with the
Secretary for more than an hour. They
laid before the Secretary at much length
and with great energy and eloquence the
merits of the controversy in South Afri-
ca and the desire of the Boer republics
that the United States should intervene
in the interest of peace and use its infiu-
ence to that end with the British govern
ment.
The Secretary of State made the fol-
lowing reply:
1.-THE President in his message to the
Congress, last December, saidi This
government has maintained an attitude
of neutrality in the unfortunate contest
between Great Britain and the Boer
states of Africa. We have remained
faithful to the precept of avoiding entan-
Cling alliances as to affairs not of our
direct concern. Had circumstances sug-
gested that the parties to the quarrel
would have welcomed any kindly express
sion 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 sacri-