"By the second proclamation, dated at Pretoria, June 6, 1900, it is, _inter alia_, notified that, in the event of any burgher being granted a pass under paragraph 2 of the above proclamation, he would be allowed to retain possession of his stock; or should any or all of this stock be required for the use of her Majesty's troops, he would receive current market value for the same in cash. "The undersigned, in the name of the Government of the South African Republic and the Government of the Orange Free State, feel themselves obliged most strenuously to protest against the intent of both these proclamations. "Because from these proclamations, taken in their mutual relation to each other, there appears to be no other deduction than that the burghers are only guaranteed retention of their property if they shall first have taken the oath referred to in paragraph 2 of the first-named proclamation clearly. The declaration set forth in the proclamation of June 6, 1900, only has sense if it is assumed that in the judgment of Field-Marshal Roberts the property of burghers (even of those who have taken no 'prominent part' in the policy which led to the war) may be taken away from them by him solely on the ground of there being war between England and the South African Republic. "This now is in direct conflict with principles of international law in force for ages already, according to which private property, not being contraband of war, must be respected in war with the country, and which have been once more expressly acknowledged by Article 46 (being a part of the 3rd Section, entitled 'De l'autorité militaire en le territoire de l'état ennemi') of the declaration annexed to the 'Convention concernant les lois et coutumes de la guerre sur terre,' which was also signed on behalf of her Britannic Majesty. Said article reads as follows:-- "'L'honneur et les droits de la famille, la vie des individus, et la propriété privée, ainsi que les convictions religieuses et l'exercice des cultes, doivent être respectés. La propriété privée ne peut pas être confisquée.' "Although the South African Republics are not included amongst the contracting Powers, the principles enunciated in the article quoted may none the less be invoked by them, because that article does nothing more than formulate what during ages has been common right in war between civilised nations.