property and life,
and the Republics claimed the right to treat the inhabitants of Her
Majesty's territory as if this territory had been annexed by one of
these States. The Transvaal having these actions in view, had for
years stored up, on an enormous scale, military provisions, which
could only have been destined for use against England.

"Your Excellencies made some remarks of a negative nature
concerning the aim for which these preparations were made. I do not
consider it necessary to discuss the question which you have thus
raised, but the consequences of the preparations, made in great
secrecy, have been that the British Empire has found itself forced
to repel an inroad which has brought on a costly war, and caused
the loss of thousands of valuable lives. This great misfortune has
been the punishment that Great Britain has had to undergo during
the last few years for having suffered the two Republics to exist.
Keeping in sight the use which the two Republics have made of the
position presented to them, and the misfortunes which their
unprovoked attacks on Her Majesty's territory have brought, Her
Majesty's Government can only reply to Your Honour's telegram by
saying that they are not prepared to acknowledge the independence
either of the South African Republic, or of the Orange Free State."

Appendix A

REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE GENERAL REPRESENTATIVES HELD AT
VEREENIGING, IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, ON THE 15TH OF MAY, 1902,
AND THE FOLLOWING DAYS

The first meeting of the representatives of the two Governments took
place at 11.30 a.m. on May 15th.

There were present:--

_For the South African Republic_--His Honour the President, S.W. Burger,
F.W. Reitz, Commandant-General L. Botha, Messrs. J.B. Krogh, L.J.
Meijer, L.J. Jacobs, and His Honour the Staats-Procureur.

_For the Orange Free State_--States-President, M.J. Steyn; Judge, J.B.M.
Hertzog; Secretary of State, W.J.C. Brebner; Commander-in-Chief, C.R. de
Wet; and Mr. C.H. Olivier.

The first matter discussed was the formula for the oath which the
delegates were to take, and it was decided that it should run as
follows:--

"We, the undersigned, duly swear that we, as special national
representatives, will remain true to our people, country, and
Government, and that we will serve them to the best of our ability,
an