The Orange State vehemently protested, and President Brand denounced the annexation as a breach of faith.

Not only, he said, were the Diamond Fields within the limits of his Republic; the agreement between Waterboer and the Secretary of State was itself a breach of the Orange River Convention, by which Great Britain undertook not to negotiate with any native chief north of the River Vaal.

Lord Kimberley paid no heed to Brand's remonstrances.

He denied altogether the validity of the Dutch claim, and he would not hear of arbitration.

By the time that Lord Carnarvon came into office thousands of British settlers were digging for diamonds in Griqualand West, and its abandonment was impossible.