The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-22
With Great Britain or Any Other
Nation Possible.
a CATEGO RlCAL DENIAL
The State Department Had No Com
plaint from Mr.. Macrum as TO In
reference With His Mail and
the British Government
Kncw Nothing Of Such
Interference.

wAsuINGTON, Feb. 21-The answer
of the State Department to the House
resolution calling for information re-
sardir:; certain charges made py laec
t,oos,u MaotIa was transmitted 10 tie
House to-day by the President. 1t is
signed by Secretary Hay, and says:
INC Department of State has been IN
regular communication by mail and tele-
,-ranh with Charles E. Macrum, late Con-.
sui of the United States at Pretoria
South African republic, since MS entrance
upon the duties of the office Commufi-
cations made to him have been answered
and tha execution Of instructions sent
has been reported by him. Hls as
patches to the department, for"arued
through the consulate at Lorenzo
MARQUES, have during that time peeh
,repularlv received The only instance
of complaint in respect TO the lrahsi.
of the mails for Lorenzo Marques and
Pretoria. was in November last, when
there was a temporary stoppage of the
mails at Cape Town, against which ME.
Macrum and the Consul at Lorenzo
Marques protested Arrangements We're
made for the prompt delivery OIL the
consular mails to the United states Con-
isul-General ait Cape Town, by Whom
the mail for Mr.. Hollis and Mr.. Macrum
was forwarded to Lorenzo Marques. Inc
delay lasted but q few days, and has not
required SO far as the department IS ad-
yised. After that time the departments
mail for Lorenzo Marques and Pretoria
was sent by q new trial route, which, 1t
appears, was known and open to Mr..
AIacrum and Mr.. Hollis as early as No
.vember 18th last No obstacle IS there
fore known to have existed to Mr.. Ma
crum's unhampered correspondence W4tn
the Department of State. At no time
while at his post did Mr.. 3lacrum re-
port to the department any instance OF
violation by opening or otherwise OF MS
official mail by the British censor at
Durham or by an,sSlperson~ or persons
whatsoever tilere -s6sse -. eeisewncres
has the SO reported since he left Preto-
ria, although having the aInplest toppor-
tunity to do SO by mail while on the way
home and in person when he reported
to the department upon his return
NO SECRET ALLIANCE.
Answering the second part Of the
aforesaid resolution, the undersigned,
Secretary of State, has the honor to say
that there is no truth IN the charge that
a secret alliance exists between the Re-
public of the United States and the En-
secret alliance is possible under the con-
sctltution Of the United States, inasmuch
as treaties require the advice and con-
sent of the Senate. or understanding eN-
listing between the United States ana
any other nation.
(Signed) JOHN HAY.
department of State, Febraury 20 1900."
The Presidents message conveying this
report gave a categorical answer to the
questions embodied in the resolution, and
did not refer 10 the action of the De-
partment in relation to the matter. 1t
has since been given out at the State
Department that inquiries set on foot
Immediately after the publca ton Of Ma
crum'S first statement developed Che fact
that the British government had no
knowledge of any interference with the
correspondence of the UniteH States Con-
sulate at Pretoria, and the additional fact
that if any interference had taken place
It was contrary 70 Instructions