New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-12
A BOER WAR DEBATE.
SECRETARY HAYS COURSE DEFENDED
BY MIR. HIT.

Washington, March lin the House to-day Mr..
Bureson, of Texas, attacked Secretary Hay for
declining to request the British authorities to fur
nish passports TO go through the lines to the Rev.
Hiram w. Thomas and his wife, who desire to go TO
South Africa TO distribute Boer relief funds col
lected in Illinois. Mr.. Burleson admitted that he
did not know personally whether the report
which his resolution was based was true. His pur-
pose was solely TO ascertain the facts He sent
TO the clerks desk and had read letter from John
o. knight, who came to Washington TO the
passports Mr.. Knight said he had gone TO Secre-
tary Hay with a letter from Senator Cullom. and
the Secretary had declined 10 make the request OF
Lord Pauncefote on the ground that such
quest would be considered "meddlesome' and
''renissness of neutrality" and against the views
President Roosevelt. If the facts stated in this
letter true, said Mr. Burleson. then the State
Department was so saturated with pro-Brtish
spirit that 1t could no longer respond to the
mon dictates Of humanity when made in behalf OF
Boer women and children" He said his purpose
in having these letters read to fasten the at
tention Of the American people tho Of the
State Department.
Mr.. HIT chairman Of the Foreign Affairs Com
nittee, replied to Mr.. Bureson with some display
Of heat. He said 1t with singular surprise that
he had heard the gentleman from Texas bring for
ward resolution which already had been referred
to a committee Of which he (Burleson) was a men,
Der and which committee was to meet on a day
fixed by the motion of Mr.. Burleson himself 1t
strange that Mr. Burleson should rush in be-
fore action taken the reply Of the Secretary
of State was received.t He declared that it
effort TO PREJUDICE the before the evidence
in He asked whether we would have allowed
committee that existed in London in 1863 and which
was in full sympathy with the Confederate
to go through the Union lines for the purpose OF
distributing relief. International law must be OBJ
served. The international Red Cross organ
lied for the purpose Of carrying relief Funds
could be distributed through 1t or through con-
suls but not through those in sympathy with the
enemy. Relief funds raised in this country, in fact,
had been distributed through our conSuls.
But why should not the Secretary Of State
his good Offices relieve the distress Of the Boer
camps?" asked Mr.. Bur!eson
Mr.. HIT replied that, according to Mr.. Knights
letter the Secretary had offered to help the Rev
DR. Thomas in every way In his power, but he
rules of international law the question were
well established. Every old soldier OF either army
who had been in prison in the Civil War under
stood the situation perfectly Jefferson Davis
perambulate through Southern camps to distribute
relief The Secretary of State could make a
demand which its face was contrary TO all
precedents II would be a slap in the face OF A for
eign government. II had not been done in
itself in conflict with another Tor the sake OF max
Mr.. suzer asked il the British authorities had
declined TO allow the Red Cross TO conduct
their humane work in South Africa:
and had been denied; he did not know the facts.
The information have declared Mr. SulZer
comes from the Boer commissioners in this coun-
try"
the Eocr officials" responded Mr.. Hit.