The present Proclamation has slightly minimised these defects, but, as a whole, remains open to the objections which I then raised.

I have no wish to repeat in detail the contents of my letters of 1904, especially as they may be now found in my _Letters upon War and Neutrality_, published in 1909, pp.

95 and 98, but am unwilling not to take this opportunity once more to urge the desirability of redrafting the document in question.
The Proclamation just issued still answers to my description of that of 1904, as consisting of seven parts--viz.: (1) A recital of neutrality; (2) a command to subjects to observe a strict neutrality, and to abstain from contravention of the laws of the realm or the Law of Nations in relation thereto; (3) a recital of the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870; (4) a command that the statute be obeyed, upon pain of the penalties thereby imposed, and of "Our high displeasure"; (5) a warning to observe the duties of neutrality and to respect the exercise of belligerent rights; (6) a further warning that any persons presuming, in contempt of the Proclamation, to do acts in derogation of their duty as subjects of a neutral Power, or of the Law of Nations, will incur the penalties denounced by such law; (7) a notice that persons so misconducting themselves will obtain no protection from their Sovereign.
With the phraseology of No.

1, reciting British neutrality, and Nos.
2-5, dealing with the duties of British subjects under the Foreign Enlistment Act of 1870, and constituting the bulk of the Proclamation, little serious fault can be found.

It is well that such persons should be warned of the penalties which they may incur, including the Royal displeasure.
The remaining two clauses relate, however, to matters of a totally different character from those previously mentioned, and care should therefore have been taken, but has not been taken, to make this perfectly clear.