8457.
No. 21.
-(SOUTH AFRICA.)
LAW OFFICERS to COLONIAL OFFICE.
Royal Courts of Justice, SIR,
March 16, 1900. With reference to the two Draft Proclainations, (B) that Her Majesty's Government will refuse to recognize any confiscations of real property, or mining rights, by the Governments of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, and (C) warning persons within the territories of the South African Republic or Orange Free State against wanton destruction of property, we have the honour tó
Report-
That we see no objection to either of the proposed Proclamations.
The liability under the second will be according to law-martial law if the act is done while the district is under martial law-or the ordinary law of the country. As altered and initialled by us, we approve of the Draft Proclamations.
The Right Honourable J. Chamberlain, M.P.,
&..
dc..
&c.
We have, &c.,
RICHARD E. WEBSTER. ROBERT B. FINLAY.
CASE.
COLONIAL OFFICE to LAW OFFICERS.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
15 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
GENTLEMEN,
Downing Street,
March 14, 1900.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlaiu to request your consideration of certain questions which have arisen with regard to lands. railways, mines, and other property owned by the Governments of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, within the territories of the Republics, and of certain further questions which are likely to arise in the event of the destruction by order of the said Governments, or by the citizens of the Republies, of property in mines, buildings, mining machinery, aful the like owned by the Governments of the Republies or by private individuals or Companies within the territories of such Republics.
2. It is apprehended that, in view of the possible inclusion of the territories of the South African Republic and Orange Free State within Her Majesty's dominions at the conclusion of the war, the Governments of the Republies may make extensive alienations of property owned by them in land, railways, or mines, in order to prevent such property falling into the hands of Her Majesty at the conclusion of the war, and to cause difficulties between Her Majesty's Government and the subjects of foreign Powers to whom such property may have been made over.
A
3. It has accordingly been suggested that a Proclamation should at once be issued of a similar nature to that issued by the High Commissioner for South Africa on the 26th January last (a copy of which is enclosed, marked (A).), warning all whom it may concern that such alienations of property will not be recognized by Her Majesty's
Government.
4. A draft of such a Proclamation, which has been prepared in this Department, is transmitted herewith, and marked (B).
5. Her Majesty's Government have, further, some grounds for anticipating that, should Her Majesty's forces advance into the territories of the South African Republic, the Government of the Republic may order or perimit, or the burghers of the Republic may, without such order or permission, destroy valuable property of Her Majesty's subjects or of the subjects of neutral Powers in the shape of mines, mining machinery and plant, buildings, and the like, or the property of the Government of the South African Republie of a like nature, It is desire to prevent, if ́possible, the occurrence of such
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