Mr. Hay to Lord
Pauncefote.
Department of State,
Washington, April 9,
1900.
No. 1752.]
Excellency: Referring to my note of even date,
by which I advise you of the gratifying information cabled by the consul
at Pretoria that he can use money for British prisoners, I have the
honor to communicate to you, for the information of your Government,
copy of correspondence exchanged in January and February last between
Mr. W. Stanley Hollis, who served as acting United States consul at
Pretoria [Page 621] after the departure
of the consul, Mr. Macrum, and Mr. F. W. Reitz, state secretary of the
South African Republic, in regard to the manner and extent of the
consul’s action on behalf of British interests and in aid of the British
prisoners.
Mr. Hollis’s report of this correspondence was in execution of an
instruction sent to Mr. Macrum under date of November 24, 1899, with
which was inclosed a copy of your note of November 22, and therefore
represents the position taken by the South African Government prior to
the arrival of Consul Hay at Pretoria. Whether Mr. Hay’s telegram
indicates the confirmation by the South African Government of the
understanding so notified to Mr. Hollis, or covers any modification of
the terms thereof, can not be clearly known until Mr. Hay’s full reports
shall have been received by mail.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Hollis to
Mr. Hill.
Consulate of the United States,
Pretoria, S. A. R., February 2, 1900.
No. 114.]
Sir: Replying to the instruction from Hon.
John Hay, dated November 24 last and numbered 60, I have the honor
to report as follows:
I have had a number of conferences with the state secretary and with
the secretary of foreign affairs in relation to my attitude toward
British interests and toward British prisoners of war in this
country.
I have learned from many official and consular sources that the late
British agent at this capital was always a thorn in the side of this
Government, and that he is, in part, responsible for this present
war.
Such being the case, this Government has a strong aversion toward
recognizing anyone who may claim to act as a British agent.
The state secretary said to me: “We got rid of the British agent on
the 11th of October last, and, God willing, we will never have
another one here.”
On the other hand, this Government fully expects, when this present
war is over, to receive a British minister and British consuls, but
it will not receive any more British agents.
When I thoroughly understood the situation and the views of this
Government thereon, I wrote to the state secretary and gave him an
expression of the views of his Government, as I understood them.
Copies of my letter and of the state secretary’s reply thereto are
herewith inclosed.
I also inclose copies of a telegram that I have received from the
press censor at Durban, Natal, and of my reply thereto.
In this connection I have the honor to refer to my dispatch No. 105,
of January 5, 1900, which, together with this present dispatch and
its inclosures, will, I trust, give you a clear idea of my relations
with this Government. I have thus endeavored to come to a clear,
friendly, and satisfactory understanding upon these matters with the
Government of the South African Republic, and trust that my action
in so doing will meet with your approval.
I respectfully request that your acknowledgment of this dispatch be
sent to me at Lourenço Marquez.
I have, etc.,
W. Stanley Hollis,
United States Consul.
[Subinclosure 1.]
Mr. Hollis to
Mr. Reitz.
Consulate of the United States of America,
Pretoria, January 31, 1900.
Dear Sir: I have the honor to refer to our
conversation of this morning, in which I stated to you that my
Government had instructed me to call your attention to its views and
to the views of Lord Salisbury upon the subject of the attitude of
the United States consul at this capital in relation to British
interests and to the British prisoners of war.
[Page 622]
In this conversation I communicated to you the substance of the
communication, with its inclosures, that I had received from my
Government, and you in turn communicated to me your views in the
matter.
It thus seems that the present time is an excellent one in which we
can come to a mutual understanding in this matter.
As I understand it, the views of your Government in this matter are
as follows:
- 1.
- The Government of the South African Republic objects to
recognizing the United States (or any other) consular
officer as the official representative of the British
Government during the present war.
- 2.
- The Government of the South African Republic objects to
the transmission by the United States consul of—
- (a)
- Official communications from the British
Government and addressed to the Government of the
South African Republic.
- (b)
- Official communications from the British
Government and addressed to British prisoners
here.
- (c)
- Moneys or funds sent by the British Government to
British prisoners here.
On the other hand, I understand that the Government of the South
African Republic will have no objection to the performance by the
United States consul at this capital of the following services on
behalf of the British prisoners of war and their friends:
- 1.
- The forwarding of letters and papers sent by friends or
relatives of the prisoners.
- 2.
- The distribution of funds (under the supervision of the
war office of the South African Republic) sent to the
British prisoners by their friends or relatives.
Provided that these services are reciprocal and that the Government
of the South African Republic will have the right to request the
similar services of the United States consular officers in the
British Possessions and on behalf of the Boer and Afrikander
prisoners of war that are now in the hands of the British
authorities.
I further understand that the Government of the South African
Republic reserves to itself the right to revoke any or all of the
privileges to receive letters, money, and parcels now enjoyed by the
British prisoners of war in this Republic, and that the fact that
Boer or Afrikander prisoners of war in the hands of the British
authorities are not receiving kind and humane treatment, or are
denied privileges similar to the privileges now allowed to British
prisoners of war in the South African Republic, will, if proven to
your satisfaction, be deemed sufficient cause and reason for such
action on the part of your honorable Government.
Assuring you of my high consideration and esteem, and venturing to
hope for an early reply, I have, etc.,
[Subinclosure
2.—Translation.]
Mr. Reitz to
Mr. Hollis.
Department van Buitenlandsche Zaken,
gouvernements
kantoor,
Pretoria, February 2,
1900.
Dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter, No. 194, dated January 31, 1900, in
which you state the substance of the conversation between us of that
date, concerning the views held by this Government in relation to
your taking charge of British interests and those of British
prisoners of war in this Republic.
I note with pleasure that the view adopted by this Government has
been stated with perfect correctness in your letter under reply.
That is the attitude in accordance with which this Government has
acted and will continue to act.
Assuring you of my high consideration, etc.,
F. W. Reitz,
State Secretary.
[Subinclosure 3.]
Press Censor to Mr.
Hollis.
[Telegram.]
Pretoria, 124, February 1,
1900.
Please say if prisoners are allowed to receive parcels tobacco; other
things. Are they allowed newspapers?
[Page 623]
[Subinclosure 4.]
Mr. Hollis to
Press Censor at Durban,
Natal.
[Telegram.]
United States Consulate,
Pretoria S. A. R., February 2, 1900.
Yes; if sent by their friends, and through this consulate.
