New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-29
MACRUM TELLS HIS STORY
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TAKES
NO ACTION on HIS CHARGES.

EXPLANATIONS AS TO A REQUEST FOR
MEDIATION GIVEN IN LETTER FROM
SECRETARY HAY.
Washington March 2s.-Charles E Macrum Of
East Liverpool. Ohio, formerly American Consul
Pretoria, appeared before the House Committee IN
Foreign Affairs to-day and told OF the alleged IN
dgnities he suffered the hands of the British.
There many spectators in the room when
Chairman Hit called the committee to order. Mr..
Macrum asked by Mr.. Hit to make any state
ment he fit regarding the opening of his mail
by the British censor. Mr.. Macrum referred to
the statement he had made time ago. That,
he said, embodied practically all he had say.
He explained that when he asked for leave of alb
sence he desired home for private business
reasons and also because he wished to place before
the Government certain facts which he deemed 1t
essential should be known here He understood, he
said that the British had possession of the Ameri-
can cable cipher, He not certain of this, but
he had since received information which convinced
him that his suspicious He also de-
sired information to his course when the settle
Eent came the end of the war. He had petit
ton from some American residents in the Trans
vaal. asking that the United States maintain alb
solute neutrality, which he wanted to present TO
the State Department. The petition ne read to
the committee 1t was signed by Gordon, the
Consular Agent at johannesburg
Asked as TO when he first satisfied that his
mail was being tempered with he said that
was declared on October u. lie did not receive any
mail between that date and the second week in
November. Ordinarily he had a box of mail every
week.
Did other people receive mail during that pc
riod?' asked Nj Williams, of Mississippi.
Not that / know Of replied Mr.. Macrum
Pressed for specific information as to how he got
the intimation that the British were opening and
delaying his mail. he replied that when his mail
did not arrive he telagraphed TO the American
Consul at Lonrenco Marques. requesting him to
inquire of cope Town why 1t was being delayed.
The Consu! replied that he also had had mail
Mr.. Macrum said the delay of his mail created a
conviction in his mind trat the British authorities
We're responsible The first actual evidence he had
was the receipt of two opened letters. He pro-
duced the envelopes which he said contained those
letters one was from a private citizen addressed
to the United States Consul Pretoria and the
other to him by from Consul Stowe at
Cape Town
STATEMENT BASED ON BELIEF.
William Alden Smith of Michigan, interrogated
the witness sharply the reasons for stating his
belief that the British authorities had possession
OF the State Departments cipher. Mr. Macrum
said he could not affirm that fact from actual
knowledge, but there were certain facts which con-
WINGED him tn at such was the case He explained
that on November he had sent cable dispatch
to the State Department in cipher asking for
leave of absence. That message had gone through
Informed that newspaper at Durham printed the
fact that he had asked for leave of absence
MI Smith was proceeding to question Mr.
Macrum TO the character Of the code used by
him in this dispatch especially whether he
had used what known the Slater code,
common code, purchasable anywhere. Mr.. Hit
thought II improper to speak of the codes m
ployed by the Government, but II finally
agreed that harm could come from direct
reply whether the Slater code was used.
Macr in
the State Department cipher of the Slater code
And you claim substance of that dispatch
made public?' asked Mr.. Smith.
Il do"
Where" H.
In Natal
WAS it accurate publications."
Il do not know"
Mr. Macrum said he had never seen the publica-
ton. He had only been informed that the fact
that he had asked leave of absence had been
printed. He affirmed that knew of this fact
except himself.
At this point Mr.. Howard. of Georgia, interposed
to question the utility of the examination. TT
looks me-" said he. like effort TO concoct
sensation of nothing"
But the committee decided to proceed, and in re-
ply to questions from Mr.. Bureson Mr.. Macrum
said that leave OF absence had been granted him
by Secretary Hay on November Is. He read to the
committee message from the cable company say
ing that a cipher dispatch sent by him to the
| Secretary of State November IA had been held
Z
if other consuls had suffered any inconvenience In
communicating with their home Governments, Mr..
Macrum said they had. The Belgian and German
consuls both told him that no cipher kilograms
were allowed go through.
| DID NOT REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT.
Did you report to the State Department that
! your mail had been opened?" asked Mr. Berry of
! Kentucky.
| II did not
H.
| ington?"
| Il did not"
Why?'
Il would prefer not to answer that question:
This reply raised a general laugh
| Mr. Adams of Pennsylvania, then proceeded to
| cross-uuestlon Mr. Macrum rather severely the
duty of a consul to remain at his post during com
plications.
Mr. Macrum described alleged meeting be-
tween President Steyn of the Orange Free State
| and Consul Stowe, of Cape Town, at which he was
present, in which he said Steyn was anxious that
Stowe should do something to settle the difficulty
which brewing He said that President Steyn
suggested appeal to the President of the United
| States and that Mr.. Stowe had replied that he
| would be glad If some such thing could be done
| And I have believe that the question
| was submitted to the President of the United
| States" added Mr. Macrum. "and that he returned
| an nfavorabe reply"
What makes you say that?" inquired Mr.. Hit
| Il was told so by Colonel Stowe"
| WAS that statement in writing?'
| TT was
| Have you the letter?''
| No: it is in the files of the Pretoria Consulate
| After further questioning Mr.. Macrum said h
| might have a copy of the letter; he could not say
| positively Afterward he said he thought he coult
| produce it in short time.
Mr.. Macrum went over the exchange of tele
| grams with the State Department relative to hi
leave but as these were in the cipher of the De
1