Gilpin observer., 1900-02-22
LETTERS WE'RE OPENED.
Consul Macrum Has Evidence That the
British Censor Tam pered with His Mail.

British Censor Tempered With His Mail.
Denver, Feb. 20.-The Rocky Noun
tain News this morning prints the fol-
lowing special dispatch from Wash
ington:
Your correspondent to-day had n long
interview with Charles +. Macrum re-
lieved from the consulate at Pretoria
through the grace of Secretary Hay
and the British government. The writ
er has seen the proof of Macrum's
main charge. nrmely, that United
States official mail was opened by the
British censor. Mr.. Macrum had sew
eral envelopes, each bearing the Brit
ish sticker applied to the envelope af-
ter it had been opened by the censor.
He has one envelope which contained
mail matter from Consul General
Stowe at Cape Town. 1t is the regu-
lation blue of the consular service. 1t
bears upon it's face the legend, ~. S.
Consular Service" and stamp, Mail
suspended" On the reverse side is the
United States government seal i'm
pressed upon the read sealing wax of
the consular service. The British
sticker, resealing the letter after it had
been opened, bears the potential initials
~. r." the initials of the clerk who
opened the letter. the name of the place
where 1t was opened.
1t will astound Americans to know
that the British authorities are famil-
lar with the American consular code.
On November Sth Mr. Macrum sent
cablegram in code to the State Depart
ment urgently requesting he be per-
mitted to come home. Usually cable
grams, because of the difference in
time between South Africa and this
country, consume two days in trans
mission-that is to say, the cable sent
by Mr.. Macrum on October Sth would.
normally. have been received by the
State Department on October 10th.
But, on October 9th. before the cable
gram was received by the State De-
partment certainly. and before it was
sent from South Africa probably. the
British papers in Natal, hundreds of
miles away, announced in impressive
type that Mr.. Macrum, the American
consul at Pretoria, desired to be per-
mitted to go home.
Mr.. Macrum is here eager to answer
any and all questions. He will tell
senator's and representatives personally
or in committee all about how Amer-
ca and American interests have been
regarded by the British government in
South Africa. He is particularly anX-
lous to avoid any charge of PARTISAN
sltp. for his Sympathies are Republi-
can, his political interests are Republ-
can and his official friends are Republ-
can.
Believing rs I did that / was doing
my country Il service by coming home
for the purpose of making an explana-
tion, / did not fortify myself with all
the official records | might have Sc
cured.
My amazement may be imagined
when | learned from Assistant Secre-
tary Hill officially what had heard in
Europe unotficially. that l had been re-
moved and some one else-the secre-
tary's son. believe it is-appointed to
the post l had left, in American inter-
est only"
Has the State Department asked for
any proof of your charges?' was asked.
No, the State Department has asked
nothing" replied Mr.. Macrum when
i found that had been removed as n
consular officer. | was in much doubt
as to how it would be possible for me
to get an official report before the State
Department. 1t was because of this
doubt that failed to tell Assistant Sec
retary of State DR.. Hill. whom | es-
TEEN very highly, the facts of import
ance l am ready to relate To any con
gressional committee that desires to
hear me-
IF the State Department is making
an investigation. l have received no re-
quest to tell the department anything
l might know