Commanders who may see their way to neutralising persons engaged in the succour or slaughter of wounded horses would be quite within their powers in entering into temporary agreements for that purpose.
I may add that the "Convention concerning the laws and customs of war on land," prepared by the recent conference at The Hague, and signed on behalf of most Governments, including our own, though not yet ratified, contains a chapter "Des malades et des blesses," which merely states that the obligations of belligerents on this point are governed by the Convention of Geneva of 1864, with such modifications as may be made in it.

Among the aspirations (_voeux_) recorded in the "Acte final" of the conference, is one to the effect that steps may be taken for the assembling of a special conference, having for its object the revision of the Geneva Convention.

Should such a conference be assembled Mr.Pike will have an opportunity of addressing it upon the painfully interesting subject which he has brought forward in your columns.
Your obedient servant, T.E.HOLLAND.
Oxford, November 27 (1899).
The "second Geneva Convention," above mentioned, was the "Projet d'Articles additionnels," signed on October 20, 1868, but never ratified.
Art.

21 of the _Reglement_ annexed to The Hague Convention of 1899 as to the "Laws and Customs of War on Land," stating that "the obligations of belligerents, with reference to the care of the sick and wounded, are governed by the Convention of Geneva of August 22, 1864, subject to alterations which may be made in it," is now represented by Art.

21 of The Hague _Reglement_ of 1907, which mentions "the Convention of Geneva," without mention of any date, or of possible alterations.