Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-05-24
A NEUTRAL POLICY.
The Boer Delegates Visit the State
Department at Washington.
The STATEMENT OF SECRETARY HAY.
The United States Government VIII Do
cline TO Interfere In Behalf Of the
South African Republics in the
Present Struggle.

Washington, May 22.-The state de-
partment has met the issue raised by
the coming to Washington of the
Boer delegation by declining to in
terfere in behalf of the South African
republics in the present struggle. Yes
terday morning note came to the
state department from the delegates
asking that they be permitted to pre-
sent themselves at the department. A
prompt acquiescence was returned by
Secretary Hay and the hour of $3.50
was fixed for the meesing. At that
time the three delegates appeared.
They were unaccompanied and were
shown at once into the diplomatic
room. Secretary Hay, accompanied
by Mr.. Babcock, his private secretary
and stenographer, entered the dip
lomatic room and cordially greeted his
visitors. just what passed between
them probably will never be exactly
known, for when the meeting was
over, after lasting an hour, the Beers
in departing stated to a number of
anxious newspaper men that they
had, and would have, nothing to say
as to what happened. For his part,
the secretary of state was more com
municative, but before making any
statement, made his way to the white
house and consulted the president.
Then he gave out through his secre-
tary the following statement;
"Messrs. A. Fischer, G. II. Vessels
and A. d. w. Wolmarans, the
delegates in this country of the South
African republics, called to-day by ap-
pointment at the state department.
They were cordially received and re-
manned with the secretary of state
for more than an hour They laid
before the secretary at much length
and with great energy and Noquence
the merits of the controversy in South
Africa and the desire of the Boer re-
publcs that the United States should
intervene in the interest of peace and
use its influence to that end with
the British government.
"On the 10th of last March we re-
ceived from Mr.. Hay, the United
States consul at Pretoria, this tele-
gram: 4 am officially required by
the government of the republics to
urge your intervention with a view to
cessation of hostilities. Same request
made to representatives of European
powers.
"The president at once directed me
to convey the substance of this tele-
gram to the British government and
in communicating this request | was
directed by him to express his earnest
hope that Il way to bring about peace
might be found. and to say that he
would be glad to aid in any friendly
manner to promote so happy re-
suit The Transyaal government was
at the same time informed of the
presidents action in the matter Our
representative in London promptly
communicated the presidents in
struction to Lord Salisbury. In an
swer he was requested to thank the
president for the friendly interest
shown by him, and Lord Salisbury
added that her majesty's government
could not accept the Intervention of
any power. This communication also
was Immediately transmitted to our
consul at Pretoria, to be commune
Gated to the president of the South
African republic.
"The steps taken by the president
in his earnest desire to see an end to
the strife which has caused so much
suffering may already be said to have
gone to the extreme limit permitted
to him. The president sympathizes
heartily in the sincere desire of all
the people of the United States that
the war which is now affecting South
Africa may, for the sake of both par
ties engaged, come to speedy close
but, having done his full duty in pre-
serving a strictly neutral position be-
tween them and in Selling the first
opportunity that presented itself for
rendering his good offices in the in
terests of peace, he feels that, in the
present circumstances no course is
open to him except to persist in the
policy OF impartial neutrality"
KpufuaIv g. IuI,