The Acting Secretary of State of the South African Republic to Mr. Olney.
January 29, 1896.
On the 28th of January, 1896, the following telegram was sent to Manion, United States consular agent at Johannesburg:
January 28.
Your letter of yesterday has been received to-day. It inclosed a copy of a cablegram sent by you to Mr. Olney, Secretary of State of the United States, at Washington, relative to the interview which was granted to you yesterday by His [Page 571] Excellency the President and members of the executive council. His excellency and the members of the executive council are very sorry that you did not adhere to your promise to submit your cablegram, before sending it, to his excellency for examination; this for the prevention of any misunderstanding. Your apprehension that a misunderstanding might arise appeared to be not without foundation. You say “They are gratified United States are acting independently in this connection” etc. When you made this indication his excellency distinctly warned you against any such interpretation. It may at least be understood from your telegram that you desire the instructions in question to the British representative, because his excellency and the executive council are gratified that the United States are acting independently. This is an erroneous view. When a nation, under circumstances such as those which recently arose with appeals to another for help, his excellency is gratified, because his excellency and the executive council are convinced that the Republic can, if necessary, afford protection. His excellency, however, has not the slightest wish to influence any step such as that taken by the United States. Your other statements are inaccurate either in whole or in part. I shall confirm this telegram by a letter and shall therein point out other inaccuracies. A copy of this telegram will be sent to the Secretary of State of the United States at Washington with a view to preventing further misunderstanding and trouble.