The suburban citizen., 1900-02-17
MACRUM SPEAKS OUT.
Says British wouldn't Let Him Ieh
Pretoria situation Humiliated
by the Censor.

toria, who has heretofore declined TO state
the reasons which caused him to leave MS
post soon after the South African war broke
out made public the following signed state
ment:
'The situation in Pretoria was such that'
first, as an official, could not remain there
while my Government at home was appar-
emily in the dark as to the exact conditions
In South Africa; secondly, rs man ana
citizen OF the United States l could not re-
main in Pretoria, sacrificing my own sell
respect and that of the people OF Pretoria
while the Government at home continued 10
leave me in the position Of British Oonsui
and not an American Consul.
II want to say right here that there was
not one single request made Of me through
the Department of State looking to the care
OF British interests in Pretoria which did
not fulfill and report upon according to my
orders. On the other hand, American In
terests in South Africa were in that condi-
ton which demanded that the Department
of State should be cognizant of them.
II issued the statement received from the
State Department that Americans must re-
main neutral. In the face of this Americans
were continually going to the front ana
taking up arms in the cause OF the Beers.
could not help but know that many OF these
were citizens of the United States. also
knew that many Of them, in utter despair at
the apparent attitude Of our own govern
ment, were taking the oath Of allegiance to
the Transyaal Republic
when affairs had reached that state that
my yiee-consul, Mr. Van Ameringen, closed
up his business took the oath Of allegiance
to the Republic, and went to the front as
burgher, thought the time had come when
/ should make report OF these conditions.
1T was over four weeks from the time the
gal opened before j received single mail
dispatch from my Government or personal
letter The mail for the Transvaal had all
been stopped at Cape Town by order Of the
High Commissioner.
"When this mail was finally forwarded to
me- after Colonel stowe, the United States
Consul General at Cape Town, had secured
its release. had the humiliation as the rep
resentative Of the American Government oil
sitting in my Office in Pretoria and looking
upon envelopes bearing the official seal oI
the American Government opened and OIL
cially sealed with 4 sticker, notifying me
that the contents had been read by the CEN
sor at Durham.
''rhe cable service for the Transyall was
absolutely cut off. ] was privately informed
by the Belgian and German Consuls at Pre-
toria that their official cables in code to
their Governments had been refused by the
censor.
II fled one cable in the interest OF an
American in Pretoria, which was refused
absolutely by the censor in Durham. This
cable | sent TO the fancee Of Mr. Nelson, an
American business man In Pretoria. she
was on her way to South Africa from Bui-
falo. n Y, when the war broke out. Ac-
cording to a letter which Mr.. Nelson re-
ceived just before the war commenced she
was buying her trousseau in Europe. The
cable requested her to come by the East
Coast. When l informed Mr.. Nelson that
the cable had not been sent his brother took
the oath OF allegiance to the Republic and
went to the front.
But these are simply minor details. The
misrepresentation which had been going
on before tho war and after 1t opened were
OF such a serious nature and would require
such detailed explanation that on Noyem-
ber filed a cable to the department in
code stating that | wished leave OF absence
in order TO visit the States
Il set forth in this cable that my vice
consul had enlisted in the Boer Armyi that
u Mr.. Atterbury, an American whom had
known very fayorably for more than year
could take charge OF the office until my
return. In reply to this dispatch, which
was forwarded without any delay, | received
from the department reply advising me
that my presence at Pretoria was Important
to public interests.
"Ou the sth photographed again acknowl-
edging the receipt OF the cable and advising
the department that the situation was not
critical; that Mr.. Atterbury was competent
that my presence in America was Important
No reply was received and | wired again on
the 18th, stating that no reply had beon re-
ceived and again urged favorable reply
No reply was received to this.
"On November IS ! ugain fled a cable
stating that three o. my cables had been
unanswered and that q substitute would
answer as Consul during my absence, and
requested a reply. 10 this received re.
ply Immediately, which was reiteretloa OF
the reply to my drst cable.
II left Pretoria the night OF December lG
went straight to Paris and notified the de-
partment OF my presence there while wait
ing for the American l. ne boat 20 sail for
New York. 1 arrived in Washington on
Monday, February o. and reported to AS
sistant Secretary Hill, OF the state Depart
ment, who officially inforGe ed mo that Sec
retary Hays son had 3ssa appointed in my
place and that no was ON his way 10 Pretoria