The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-16
HIS MAIL OPENED
BY BRITISH CENSOR
The Charges Brought by Ex-
Consul Macrum.
DENIAL BY DEPARTMENT 7
MACRTM ALSO ALLEGES \ Sc
CRET ALLIANCE.
RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY IN TIE HOUSE
As to Opening Macrum's Mail, It Asks Wha
Steps Have Been Taken to Obtain an
Explanation and Apology
From England.

Washington, Feb. 15.-The signed
statement by former United States Con
sui Macrum respecting his reasons for
leaving Pretoria for the United States
brought forth today a statement from
the State Department in denial of GER
tain allegations made by the ex-Consul
and resolution of inquiry in the House
as to certain of Mr.. Macrum's charges.
The State Department s denial related
chiefly to an assertion that Mr.. Nacrrm
had reported that his mail had been tam
pered with hy the British authorities.
while the Congressional inquiry related
TO this matter and another charge that
an alliance existed between Great Brit
ain and the United States.
Mr.. Macrum had said:
1T was over four weeks from the time
the war opened before i received a
single mail dispatch from my Govern
ment or a personal letter. The mail for
the Transvaal had all been stopped at
Cape Town by order of the High Com
missioner. When this mail was finally
forwarded to me, after Colonel Stowe,
the American Consul General at Cape
Town. had secured its release. | had the
humiliation. as the representative of the
Americans Government of sitting in my
office in Pretoria and looking upon en-
yelopes bearing the official seal of the
American Government, opened and Off
Gladly sealed with Il sticker, notifying
me that the contents had been read by
the censor at DURHAM
4 HI. Hnn l.
in and supervision of his cable dis
patches and also Of those of the Belgian
and German Consuls.
The inferential allegations Of alliance
between the United States and Great
Britain was made III these words:
Il wish to state right here that when
ACCEPT ted MY post as consul Kne"
nothing Of any secret alliance between
America ard Great Britain. and that
had seen nothing i'll the regulations
which made the consul of the American
Republic subject to the whims erd
caprice OF an English military censo, 1T
Durham"
While the State Department was
ayersa today to discussing the ex-cons,il 5
allegations it made an authoritative
statement to the effect that searcn
of the records OF the Department failed
to show that Mr.. Macrunl had ever
reqorted TO the Department hat snls
official mail was being regularly tam
pered with by the British authorities
The Department said that he 6ld, II 4
general way, report That both official and
private mail. intended for American cti-
zens, did not reach him punctualiy and
IA nn11o HppOllf3r
of this rather arbitrary proceeding or
the Ialt of the postal authorities. The
Department investigated the matter and
learned that no unnecessary delay eX-
listed, and il does rot credit the state
ment that any correspondence, official
or otherwise. was opened inspected and
delayed ny British butterflies.
Regarding Mr.. Macrums statement
that his vice-consui. Mr.. Van Ame1in-
gen. closed M his business, took the
oath of allegiance 10 the Republic ana
went To the iTent as Il burgher, the De
lartment said shat the records show
that when Mr.. Ameringen applied for
appointment as vice-consul at Pretoria
he stated that he was born in Holland;
that hiS legal residence was III Pretoria.
and that he was Il naturalized citizen OF
the South African Republic. This APP
plication was dated Pretoria, November
18th. 1888.
Representative Wheeler. OF kentucky,
introduced tine following resolution i'll
the House:
Whereas. Charles T.. Macrum. late
IL consul of the Government Of the Ini-
ted States at pretor,l. in the Tran.vaal
Republicover his own signature chlTges.
when this lhis) mail WAS finally for
warded to ne after Colonel Stowe. the
American Copsld General at Cape Town
bad secured its release, | had the humll-
ration as the representative of the Amer
lean Government of sitting in my office
in Pretoria and looking upon envelopes
bealing the official seal Of the AlneFi-
can Government opened and 0ffcially
sealed with a sticker. notifying me tnat
the contents had been read by the censor
at Durham, and.
Whereas he further states in the
same article when ! accerted my post
as consul knew nothing Of any secre,
alliance between .America and Great
Britain therefore be ii
'Resolved. by the House that the See
rctlaly of State is directed TO inform
the House OF Representatives If said
Charles T.. MacrIm as consul OF the
American Government informed the
State Department that his official mai
had been opened and read by the British
censor at Durham. and if SO. what steps
if any have been taken to obtain an ex-