New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-10

that he was clergyman and might therefore be
too partial to missionaries, and that Austria re-
1ected one because he had formerly been an
Austrian subject and his presence might incite
other Austrians to expatriate themselves. Those
Incidents were regretted, but were not permitted
to impair the friendliness of relations between
the United States and the countries in question.
What is unpleasant in this case is that the OBJ
lection is made not to the man personally but TO
his official capacity -constructively. to the Gov
eminent by which he is commissioned. The
Transvaal Government has been represented by
its most ardent friends as looking to the United
States Government a benevoently neutral
Power, to which appeal for mediation arbi-
tration might with entire confidence be made
A disagreeable contrast to such professions is
made by the action of the Transvaal in refusing
to this Government privilege which is entirely
proper for any neutral to enjoy. and which is in
accord with the general custom of civilized
Powers 1t is not to be assumed that the Trans
vaal means to say it cannot trust an officer of
the United States. Yet upon the face of it there
could be little blame for any one who thus in
terpreted the act of the Pretoria Government
Nor can it be urged effectively that the Trans
vaal has thus acted because it regards the
United States as too friendly and sympathetic
toward Great Britain That is the very ground
on which one nation always asks another to look
out for its interests. 1t was because Great Brit
ain seemed more friendly to us than any other
Power that the United States committed Its In
terests to her In the Spanish war. 1t was be-
cause France was her closest friend that Spain
committed her interests to French guardianship
For the Transvaal to object to the United States
exercising Offices in behalf of British interests
because the United States is friendly to Great
~ 0YtN and
sense. Nations, like individuals, intrust their
interests not to foes nor to strangers, but to
their closest friends.
To say that Great Britain shall not be repre-
scented by friend is to say that she shall not be
represented at ALL That, too, is within the
TransvaaFs right under the strict letter OF the
law and that no doubt, is the real secret of It's
action. Great Britain has refused to recognize
the diplomatic independence of the Transvaal,
and has insisted upon exercising suzerainty over
the foreign relations Of that State. very wen,
says the Transvaal If you take that ground IN
time of peace you shall not have the privilege OF
taking the opposite ground in time of war, when
to do so might be to your selfish advantage.
And so the TransvaaI declines to let the Ameri-
can Consul exercise what would be semi-diplo-
matte Offices in the British behalf. 1t is o
shrewd and not illogical performance, from the
Boer point Of view. But it is by no means GER
tain that it will commend the Transyaal cause
to the increased sympathy Of the world Ger
tainIy it will be regretted that in the execution
Of it the Trahsvaal has seen fit to take an ac-
ton which, while technically permissible, can
not be Invested of the quality of an unpleasant
reflection upon the United States. We have said
that the announcement of this action Is not sur
prising 1t is not, unless to those who have de-
luded themselves with the idea that the Trans
vaal has a peculiar affection for the United
States and is more courteous and generous in its
conduct than most other States To such the
Transvaal's present action may serve as an
instructive lesson.