The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-29
SECRETARY HAYS LETTER.
correspondence That Does Not Help
Macrum Out OF His Hole.


Macrum Out OF His Hole.
After hearing Mr.. Macrum the commit
tee went into executive session. Chairman
Hit presented a letter from Secretary
Hay, giving i'm detail the departments
view of the subject and this was subse-
quently made public. The committee took
no action as to making report and il was
stated by members that there was nothing
10 be done beyond taking the testimony.
Secretary Hays letter. giving the official
view of the case, is dated March "A, and
addressed to 'Hon. r. r. Hit, chairman
committee on foreign affairs, House OF
Representatives" 1t follows:
"Sir-In response TO your inquiries this
morning i have the honor TO report that
up 10 this date Mr.. Macrum late consul
OF the United States at Pretoria has made
10 representations to this department in
regard TO the opening of his mail by the
British authorities.
Although without any information ex-
cept the allegations of Mr.. Macrum, to
which reference was made I'm resolu-
ton Of the House of Representatives. max
ing certain inquiries OF this department. l
mentioned the matter TO the British am
bassador, who made inquiry in regard TO ii
OF the British government and was in
formed in return that the British govern
ment was not aware of any such incident
having taken place. but If anything OF the
sort had occurred IL was contrary TO the
| instructions of that government.
Il received no further information I'm re-
gard to the matter until the 2lst of this
month. when this government in
formed by dispatch from Mr.. j. @. Stowe.
consul general OF the United States at
Cape Town, that two letters from this con-
suiate, one to Pretoria and one TO Lourenzo
Marques, were opened by the censor at
Durham. Upon notice of this / called on
the high commissioner, who wired Durham,
| and a 70
turned This is - the information pos
! sessed by this department in regard To the
incident.
I'm reference to certain allegations as TO
| our consuls in South Africa having been
| approached with subjects of mediation.
have the honor TO reply that i'm a dispatch
| partment on the 9Th of November. and the
| only file relating to this mat
| ter Mr.. Stowe reported as follows:
" Under date of Sept. 26 l received from
| the United States consular agent at Bloem-
| fontein, o. r. s. letter which reads as
| follows: Il saw President Steyn this after
| noon by his request. and he would like TO
| have you find out at once IL your Cmy)
| government will consent for you 10 act as
| arbitrator, and If you can also find out IL
| the high commissioner would also consent
The President appears to think whatever Is
| done should be done at once. and wishes to
know il you can give him this informa-
| ton
% Il replied by wire as follows: 81 will
| afternoon" After giving the above re-
quest a careful consideration called on the
high commissioner the same date, and In
| the course of conversation said: when [
dined with you the other day you stated
your government would never consent 10
arbitration by outside powers or represent
atives, and your published statements were
| TO the same effect. Are you OF the same
| opinion?'' and he replied: What j might
like to do l cannot do now as my hands
are tied"
| Then 1 told him in substance what l
| had been asked by the President of the
Orange Free State. and the high commits
sioner said: please state the following as
! your reply which he dictated. and which
appears I'm the following copy OF my tele-
| graphic dispatch TO the United States con-
\ sular agent at Bloemfontein in the words
underlined to which L added the nrst nNe
| words not underlined: Cannot ask govern
| ment myself Seen party requested; though
personally favorable TO further negotla-
! tlons thinks he cannot move on the line
| proposed.
States Consul Macrum at Pretoria,
! sent the following dispatch the Same
date: Was asked by the Free state 10
ask If our government would consent Tor
me to arbitrate and to sec the high COM
| missioner and replied: Here follows the
| above dispatch. Dispatches sent in code.I
| also deemed il right TO post Consul Mac
rum as above not only for the reason that
| the Orange Free State is I'm his jurisdiction.
| hut for the further reason that he had said
/ i'm communication 10 me OF the
Nothing can be done here Tor peace uil-
less matters settled at your end Over 100
men sent to border last night. III anything
| done, must be quickly done. The high COM
missioner should do something for peace.
| In was a question i'm my mind il I ought
| to take any action at all on the request or
| the Orange Free State President, but the
high commissioner afterward said TO me
| that I had acted right and that he was
grateful at my action
"As you also inquired what there was on
| file I'm regard to the departure OF Mr.
| Macrum from his post at Pretoria i have
| the honor to inform you that on the 9Th OK
| November Mr.. Macrum telepraphed re-
| questing leave, permission 20 visit America
Absolutely imperative, private ana Oh
fetal business. Attlebury. American. takes
| charge. Cable quickly To this l replied:
| Your presence at Pretoria utmost import
| ance to public interests.
/ cabled: No reply. Department Will APP
| prove leave on explanation. imperative
| Cable Immediately The next day he
/ cabled again: Gable received Everything
| quiet Attlebury capable. experienced. My
| PRESENCE home absolutely necessary on
| the 18th he cabled once more: Three
| cables requesting leave unanswered Sub
stitute sufficient here. but not at home.
Please cable acquiescence quick. Ship salt
| ing soon
I'm reply to this on the 10Th of Novem-
| Der answered: Your presence at Pretoria
| important TO public interests
ION the LIST of December Mr.. Mscrum
| once more cabled me: No reply. Depart
ment will approve leave on explanations
| Imperative. Cable Immediately. And again.
| same date: If can't leave without per-
| mission will forfeit post il department don't
1 approve on explanation. Please reply.
| Upon this, inferring from these dis
| patches that Mr.. Macrum was In state
| OF mind which would make his services I'M
Pretoria useless. / answered on the ri OF
| December: You may come home Put At
| tlebury temporarily I'm charge Department
! will send man from here.
l soon after this received several news
| paper articles and letters from responsible
| PERSONS asserting that Attlebury. whom
| Macrum wished to place temporarily I'm
| charge Of the consulate, was a person OF
| oisreputable character and a fugitive from
| Justice T. therefore. directed Mr.. Hollis.
| consul at Lourenzo Marques. TO proceed at
| once to Pretoria and take temporary charge
! OF the consulate until the arrival OF a. s.
| Hay, who had been appointed consul"