The new consul at Pretoria also reported that everything was as satisfactory as could be expected under the circumstances of war, and his official intercourse with the Transvaal Government afterwards fully justified this assertion.  The republics displayed a proper attitude toward the consulate not only as representing American interests, but as representing Great Britain during the course of hostilities.  Every facility was afforded the American consul for performing his duties.  For the efficient service he had rendered in connection with the British prisoners he was publicly thanked by the British High Commissioner, who expressed the feeling of gratitude which he said existed throughout the British Empire for the good work which had been performed by both Mr. Hay and Colonel Stowe, the latter at Cape Town.

While enforcing the obligations of a neutral State by an attitude of strict impartiality toward both belligerents, the United States was not inclined to allow popular sympathy for the Boers to lead to complications with foreign nations over a matter with which it was only remotely concerned.  This position was known to the envoys of the Transvaal and Orange Free State before they left Pretoria.  Ample opportunity to realize the situation had been afforded them before they left Europe for America after an unsuccessful tour of the capitals of the Continent.  Nevertheless, they determined to appeal to the United States, and with this purpose in view arrived in Washington on May 17, 1900.  A resolution introduced in the Senate by Mr. Allen of Nebraska on May 19, which would have extended the privilege of the floor to them, was laid on the table,[16] a decision the wisdom of which is unquestionable.  The Senate stands before the world as an important part of the treaty-making power of the United States.  Such a privilege, if extended to the mission, could have meant nothing to foreign powers but an official reception to the envoys of a government which was not recognized as legitimate by its former conventional suzerain.  It was not the part of the Senate to inquire into the substance of the past relations between Great Britain and the Transvaal.  Especially was this true since the governmental position had been declared early in the war and nothing had occurred to warrant any alteration in that position.  This was the view which President McKinley took of the situation, and the policy of dealing with the problem was that of the strictest neutrality.

[Footnote 16:  56 Cong., 1 Sess., Record, pp. 5735, 5783-86.]

On May 21 it was officially announced that the delegates had called by appointment at the State Department.  The notice given out to the press read:  “They were cordially received and remained with the Secretary of State for more than an hour.  They laid before the secretary at much length and with great energy and eloquence the merits of the controversy in South Africa and the desire of the Boer Republics that the