The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
MACRUM GETS A HEARING
The Former Consul Tells His Story
TO a House Committee.
He Fails to Make Out Strong Case.
and Action ON the Matter L. Not
Hay Sends "A Letter Giving the At
titude OF the State Department.

Charles f Macrum. former Consul OF
the United States at Pretoria. South Al
rican Republic. appeared before the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs yesterday
to tell of the alleged interference with
his mail by the British censor.
When Mr.. Macrum issued his statement
several weeks ago declaring that his Off
cial mail had been opened by Bri ish
officials, Representative Wheeler of Ken
lucky introduced a resolution for an in
vestigation. It was arranged that the
Foreign Affairs Committee should lake the
matter up of its own motion without any
direction from the House. and Mr. Ma
crum was summoned to Washington TO
testify.
Mr. Macrum was asked by Chairman
Hit to make such statement as he saw
fit regarding the opening Of his mail.
Before beginning his remarks he presented
to the committee two letters which he
said had been opened by the British CEN
sor. In reply TO question by
Representative W. A. Smith he ad
mitted ne had returned to the United
States largely on account of private bust
ness. He had made no report 10 the State
Department in regard to the letters nor
had he attempted 10 make such a report
to the Department. He declined to say
why he had NOT made a report but stated
that he had gone to Assistant Secretary
Hill and said: Il understand l have been
dismissed
DR.. Hill said his understanding was cor
rect and Mr. Macrum said he had therefore
no report to make. He had attempted TO
see Secretary Hay but was informed that
-, saot,+'f 10 dnaI nod os lK-hx- he
had not pursued the matter further and
had not made any more attempts to see
Secretary Hay.
Chairman Hit presented letter which
had been sent 10 the committee yester-
day by the Secretary of State with
communication from Consul General Stowe
in which the latter stated that when he
heard of the opening of the letters 10 Mr..
Macrum he had Informed the British Com
missioner who in turn had communicated |
with the British officials at Port Durham. |
The explanation of those officials that the /
letters had been opened unintentionaliy |
was satisfactory.
Did you report TO the State Department |
that your mail had been opened" asked |
AFR. Berry of Kentucky.
Il did not, replied Mr.. Macrum.
did you mention it upon your arrival
In Washington
Il did not"
Why
Il would prefer not TO answer that ques-
ton
Secretary Hays Letter.
After hearing Mr. Macrum the commit
tee went into executive session and Chair
man Hit presented the following letter
addressed to him by the Secretary of
State:
March "a 1900.
THE Hon. R. R. Hit, Chairman Commit
tee On Foreign Affairs House of Rep
resentatives:
Sir: In response TO your enquiries this
morning ! have the honor to report that
up to this date Mr. Macrum, late Consul
of the United States at Pretoria, has made
NO representations to this Department in
regard to :he opening of his mail by the
British authorities. Although without
any information except the allegations of
Mr.. Macrum, to which reference was made
in a resolution of the House of Repre-
sentatives making certain enquiries of
this Department, ! mentioned the matter
to the British Ambassador, who made en-
quiry in regard to ii of the British Gov
eminent and was informed in return that
the British Government was not aware of
any such incident having taken place,
but if anything of the sort had occurred
it was contrary TO the instructions of that
Government.
Il received no further information in
regard TO the matter until the 21st of this
month, when this Government was inform
ed BIZ despatch from Mr.. J. G. Stowe,
Consul General of the United States at
Cape Town, that two letters from this con-
sulate, enc TO Pretoria and one to Lou
renco Marques, were opened by the censor
at Durham. Upon notice of this l called
upon the High Commissioner, who wired
Durham, and very satisfactory apology
was returned
This is all the information possessed by
this Department in regard to the incident.
In reference to certain allegations as TO our
Consuls in South Africa having been ap-
preached with suggestions of mediation, /
have the honor TO reply that in a despatch |
of the Sd of October, received at this de
partment on the 9Th of November and the
only one on our file relating to this matter,
Mr.. Stowe reported as follows:
Under the date of September 90 / re
eeived from the United States consular
agent at Bloemfontein, Orange Free State |
letter which reads as follows:
"'"I saw President Steyn this after
noon by his request and he would like 10
have you find out at once if your (my) |
Government will consent for you TO act as
arbitrator, and if you can also find out If
the High Commissioner would also consent |
The President appears to think whatever |
is done should be done at once. and wishes
TO know if you can give him this informa-
ton
I replied by wire, as follows:
''f''WilI reply by wire to your letter of
the Goth this afternoon
After giving the above request careful
consideration / called upon the High Com
missioner, same date, and in the course of
our conversation. said:
When dined with you the other day |
you stated your Government would never
consent TO arbitration by outside powers
or representatives, or published dispatches
so state. Are you of the same opinion?
and he replied:
What ] might like to DO / cannot do
now. 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 then said:
Please state the following as your re-
ply. which he dictated, and which appears
in the following copy of my telegraphIe
despatch 10 the United States Consular
Agent at Bloemfontein:
Cannot ask Government myself Seen
party requested; though personally favor
able 10 further negotiations thinks he can
not move On the line proposed
Believing Il a courtesy due TO the