Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-23
As To TRANSrAAL RECOGNITION

As TO TRANSTAAL RECOGNITION
The former consul of the Transvaal
republic mt London. himself an English
man, Is in Washington. 1t is said with
the intention of asking recognition from
our government as the diplomatic rep
resentativc of that republic. 1t has
been stated that the secretary of state
had declined to recognize an American
citizen appointed by the South African
republic to represent it at Washington.
1t is understood on the ground of his
citizenship, and the senate a few days
ago adopted resolution calling upon
the president for information as to this
In anticipation of the coming to Wash
ington of Mr.. Montague White, it has
been stated that he would doubtless he
given an audience by Secretary Hay but
probably would not be recognized BY
the president as a diplomatic represent
Gtivc.
The question of giving diplomatic rec
ognition to the Transvaal republic under
existing conditions appears to he a
somewhat delicate one and there is ap-
parent a disposition on the part of the
opposition to the administration to make
political capital out of it. This was
shown In the debate in the senate on
the Allen resolution and in some Of the
talk at the mass meeting in Washing
ton Sunday night. If the president
shall refuse 20 recognize an accredited
diplomatic representative of the South
African republic there is nothing more
certain than that the opposition to the
administration will construc the refusal
as evidence that the president is in sym
pathy with Great Britain. An appeal
would be persistently made to all who
sympathizc with the Beers to rebuke
the administration and it is quite posSi-
bic that such an appeal would have con.
siderable effect.
The South African republic has never
had diplomatic representative in the
United States. 1t has had consul
here and the United States is repre-
sented by consul at the TranSvaal
capital, but these officials have no dipl1.
matte character or powers. They are
simply commercial agents. The reason
why the Transvaal government has not
had diplomatic representative here is
the fact that in respect to its foreign af-
fairs 1T was not independent 1t could
make no treaty and enter into relations
with no other country. except the
Orange Free State. without the assent
of Great Britain. That was treaty ar
rangement which the Boer government.
so far as we are aware, never dis
avowcd, Consequently that government
had no use for Il diplomatic representa-
tive here. Now that it is at war, how
ever, it appears to desire to establish
diplomatic relations with the United
States 1t has not been noted that it
Is seeking to do this with any other
country, although such relations with
France and Germany and Russia would
seem to be quite as desirable as with
the United States.
1t is the right of the president to de-
termine whether or not the accredited
representative of n foreign government
shall be recognized and 1t is a question
whether congress can interfere with this
prerogative although in the case of n
refusal of recognition perhaps congress
may properly ask for the reason. That
is Il question, however. which we be-
lieve has never arisen until now. There
is no doubt that the president will
promptly respond to the senate resolu-
tion and it is also not to be doubted that
he will act in this matter of recognizing
ii diplomatic representative of the
South African republic according to his
convictions of right and duty.