It appears that he cannot see his way to accept the views stated in your letter, particularly in paragraph 3, that the term "granted" should not be held to apply to lands taken or occupied or captured. It has been admitted that the ownership of lands held by the military authorities since the first occupation is vested in the War Department, and that Department has stated in a recent letter that it claims more than a perpetual right of user.
This agrees with the practice adopted in Lord Ripon's circular despatch of 30 December 1894, a copy of which was forwarded to you in the letter from this department of August 7.
Regarding the latter part of your letter,