Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-02-16
SAYS s HAY IS B|RIT|'AIN'S TOOL
Macrum Implies Secretary Takes
Orders from England.
HOLDS THERE IS AN ALLIANCE.
Omeial Unitsd states Mall Addressed to
Kim Opened and Road BY Censor 1T
Durban-Csble Dispatches Sent BY Him
Detained-Hs Issues = Statement

Washington, Feb. 16.-Charles e.
Macrum of Ohio, former consul Of the
United States at Pretoria, South Afri-
can republic, whose home coming dur
ing the war at his own request has
been surrounded by so much mystery,
gives out long statement in which he
tells why he left Pretoria. Mr.. Macrum
is angry with Secretary Hay and his
department.. He hints that Mr.. Hay
has been acting on the advice OF the
British government in making things
unpleasant for Mr.. Macrum.
Mr. Macrum says he did not know
when he went to Pretoria that there
was any secret alliance between the
United States and Great Britain, but
he neglects to tell whether he knows
it now.
Reasons for Leaving Pretoria.
Mr.. Macrum starts off with state
ment of his reasons for leaving Pre-
toria:
1.-THE situation in Pretoria" he says,
was such that, first, as official, could
not remain there while my government
at home was apparently in the dark as
to the exact condition In South Afri-
ca. Secondly, as man and citizen OF
the United States, I could not remain
in Pretoria sacrificing my own SELF
respect and that of the people OF Pre-
toria while the government at home
continued to leave me in the position
of British consul and not an Ameri-
can consul"
Mr.. Macrum goes on to tell how IN
| the face of his statement, issued un-
der instructions from Washington, that
Americans must remain neutral, Amer
leans were continually taking up arms
for the Beers. II know" he says, that
many of them, in utter despair at the
apparent attitude of our own govern
ment, were taking the oath OF ALE
glance to the Transvaal Republic"
When his vice consul. Mr.. Van
Ameringen, Joined the Beers forces
Mr.. Macrum thought it was about time
to report these conditions to Washing
ton.
Mail Opened by Censor.
Four weeks passed after the opening
of the war, Mr.. Macrum says, before
he received any mail from his govern
ment or personal letter. When ne
got his mail he found that envelopes
bearing the seal of the American gov
eminent bore stickers, saying that
their contents had been read by the
British censor at Durham. Then Mr..
Macrum looked up international law,
"but," to use his own words, FAILED
to find anywhere that one military
power can use it's own discretion as to
forwarding the official dispatches OF a
neutral government to its representa-
tive in besieged country"
Mr.. Macrum appears to be right
about this, and his charge may cause
the state department to call on the
British government for an explana-
ton.
It was on Nov. 6 that Mr.. Macrum
cabled to the state department for
leave of absence. In that dispatch he
said that his vice consul had enlisted
in the Boer army, and Mr.. Atterbury
an American, whom he had known
fayorably for more than year, could
take charge of the consulate until Mr..
Macrum's return. The department an
swered promptly that Mr.. Macrum s
presence in Pretoria was important to
public interests.
On Nov. 8 Mr.. Macrum wired the de-
partment that the situation was not
critical, that Atterbury was competent,
and that his presence in America was
important. No answer came and he
wired again three days later.
Cable Held Eighteen Days.
On Nov. IA he sent still another dis
patch, saying he would forfeit his post
il he could not give satisfactory rea-
sons for his return. This cable was
held by the censor at Durham until Dec.
2. On Nov. 10 Mr. Macrum wired that
he had received no reply to three tele-
grams and repeated their contents. An
answer came at once, but 1t merely re-
iterated the first answer, that the con-
sups presence in Pretoria was i'm
portant. Then, Mr.. Macrum says, on
Nov. 20 he wrote to the department
that he would abide by its decision,
and that he would tell Of the conditions
prevailing by mail. On Dec. he got
an answer to his telegram of Nov. H.
the one that had been held by the cen
sor at Durham until Dec. 2. It said:
"You may come home. Put Atterbury
temporarily in charge. Department
will send man from here.
(Signed.) "HAY."
So Mr.. Macrum left Pretoria, and, on
reaching here on Feb. S, was told by
Assistant Secretary Of State Hill that
Secretary Hays son had been appoint
ed to his place and was on his way to
Pretoria. Mr.. Macrum says that up to
the time he got here he thought he was
still consul at Pretoria, and believed
=, he would be sent back after telling
what he knew, which was important
enough to warrant the expense of the
trip.