tacit conditions. Jellinek in his Die rechtliche Natur der Staatsverträge had examined already into this subject in a general way and the Austrian publicist Pfaff had considered the part played by the doctrine in Austria, in a monograph entitled Die Klause rebus sic stantibus in der Doktrin und der österreichischen Gesetzgebung (1898) but it has been left to Professor Schmidt to treat the question fully both in its theoretical and historical aspects. He shows by citation from the great body of authorities from Grotius to Pradier-Fodéré that treaty obligations have always been understood to be entered into subject to the doctrine rebus sic stantibus and he demonstrates from a historical review that in practice the doctrine has played an important part in European and American diplomacy. Herr Schmidt points out the danger of treating the rule as a specific legal principle, which in reality it is not, calls attention to the difficulty of determining what are the "changed circumstances" (veränderten Umstände) that justify the abrogation or modification of a treaty and attempts to define in a general way the sphere in which the rule is properly applicable. The study is one of the best of the sixteen that have appeared in this excellent series of monographs in political science and international law.

Der Streit um das Seebeuterecht by Wolfgang Hamman (Berlin: Puttkammer und Mühlbrecht, 1907) is a timely monograph in three parts dealing with the international law of capture on the sea. In part first the author reviews historically the controversy over the proposal to exempt private property on the sea from capture, beginning with Franklin's treaty with Prussia in 1785 and coming down to the assembling of the second Hague conference in 1907. Part two compares the rules governing capture on land with those relating to capture on the sea and analyzes the reasons for the differences of practice regulating the two kinds of capture. Part three deals with the military and political considerations which in the opinion of the author seem to justify the continuance of the sea rule.

Die ererbten Anlagen und die Bemessung ihres Wertes für das politischen Leben by Prof. Dr. Walter Haecker is the title of the ninth volume of the Natur und Staat series edited by Professors Zeigler, Conrad and Haeckel (Jena: Gustav Fischer). It is a study of the part played in political life by inherited tendencies, an attempt to formulate the principles of heredity so far as they affect the political development of States and the course of legislation. The author starts out with a discussion of race theories, then proceeds with a study of social characteristics, and ends with a consideration of "diagnosis" (Part III), and "technique" (Part IV).

German doctoral dissertations and brochures of interest to students of political science are; Das landesherrliche Begnadigungsrecht in Deutschland, by E. Adolph (Jena); Recht und Sitte auf den primitiven Kulterstufen, by R. Hildebrand (Jena: Fischer); Das Seerecht von Oléron nach der Handschrift Paris, by H. L. Zeller (Mainz: Diemer); Das burgerliche Gesetzbuch unter Berücksichtigung der gesammten Rechtssprechung der oberen Gerichte des deutschen Reichs, by E. Neukirch, A. Rosemeyer and H. Telgmann (Halle: Waisenhaus); Entwicklung und Ziele des Kolonialrechts by H. Naendrup (Munster: Cappenrath); Das römishe Recht in den germanischen Volksstaaten, by A. Halben (Breslau: Marcus); Moderne Staats Verträge über das international Konkursrecht, by F. Meili (Zurich: Fussli); and Die altgermanische Hunderschaft, by C. von Schwerin.

A CORRECTION

EDITOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW,

Dear Sir-I notice in your quarterly (for November, 1907, p. 124) the review by Mr. E. J. Benton of the "Report of the twenty-second conference of the International Law Association," held at Christiania, September, 1905.

As a member of the association for some years, much interested in its work, I ask leave to correct an error. Mr. Benton mentions the organization of the International Maritime Committee in 1896 and later says "During the early years of its existence the International Law Association met annually and published a report of its proceedings but since the formation of the Maritime Committee the two have adopted. the practice of biennial meetings in alternate years."

May I say that the association has not adhered to such a practice. In 1899 it met at Buffalo, U. S. A., August 31 to September 2; in 1900 at Rouen, France, August 21 to 24; in 1901 at Glasgow, Scotland, August 20 to 23; in 1903 at Antwerp, Belgium, September 29 to October 2; in 1905 at Christiania, Norway, September 1 to 4; in 1906 at Berlin, Germany, October 1 to 5; in 1907 at Portland, Maine, U. S. A., from August 29 to 31. It will therefore appear that in the past nine years it has met seven times and its meetings for the past three years have been annual and not biennial. Moreover, the constitution by article vii provides for "an annual conference of the association" (see report, 1906, p. xvi) and for the annual publication of its transactions (see report 1906, p. xvii). The association, it may be added, expects to hold its annual conference for the coming year, 1908, at Buda-Pest, Hungary. The writer ventures

to call attention to this meeting thus early because, as chairman of the committee on international law of the American Bar Association, he is most anxious that the conference at Buda-Pest should be well attended by American scholars interested in international law. With that view an effort has been made to have the conference called for some date not later than September 1, so that those of our countrymen who are interested may be able to attend and yet return by the middle of September in time for autumnal professional work in the courts and the universities. The request for an early meeting has been most sympathetically received and it is much hoped that the date can be arranged accordingly. Very truly yours,

State University of Iowa,

November 30, 1907.

CHARLES NOBLE GREGORY.

BOOK REVIEWS

The Truce in the Far East and its Aftermath. By B. L. PUTNAM Weale. (New York: The Macmillan Company. 1907. Pp. 647. Map of the Far East.)

Signs and Portents in the Far East. By EVERARD COTES. (London: Methuen. 1907. Pp. 308.)

The former imperial customs official who writes under the pen-name B. L. Putnam Weale, has added another large volume to his valuable studies on contemporary affairs in the Far East. His official experience, connections, and personal knowledge give him a positon of great advantage as an observer of political action; he adds to these keen insight into complex movements and into political motives, the power of analysis, and a luminous, attractive style. These qualities have made him one of the most influential guides of public opinion on oriental matters. The present volume indicates that his former enthusiasm for Japanese political action has somewhat waned, although he has not veered around completely and joined the ranks of the men who see in every Japanese move the signs of a deep laid and sinister scheme of conquest. His main position, as indicated by the title of this book, is that the present situation in the Far East is merely a ten years' truce bounded by the duration of the Anglo-Japanese treaty. If, during this short period, China can develop her economic and political life so as to become capable of self-defense and of a sane national policy, it may be possible to secure a permanent Far Eastern peace, as distinguished from a Japanese, Russian, or European peace imposed upon the Far East after another destructive war.

The author devotes the first part of his work to a cursory review of the character of Japanese government and to a more detailed study of Japanese action upon the Asiatic mainland. He points out that authority is the central principle of the Japanese system, and that the representatives in Parliament do not exercise an efficient control over public policies. Social efficiency, under the control of the government, culminating in the highly organized machine of the army, is the aim secured through a great extension of governmental powers. The expenditure

of the government has increased fourfold in twelve years. To meet these financial demands, the government is instituting a monopolistic system in economic activities. A tobacco, salt, and camphor monopoly has already been established; the State has recently acquired the railways, and through subsidies it exercises a controlling influence over the merchant marine. The prominent banks coöperate with the department of finance to such an extent as to place all important financial operations within the sphere of governmental influence.

The author next turns to the situation in Corea. He points out the basis for misunderstanding in the hereditary hatred felt by the Coreans for the Japanese, and in the lawless and predatory character of the lowclass elements that have invaded Corea from Japan. The Japanese government has not succeeded in creating a favorable impression among the Corean people. The problem which it confronted in 1904, was to establish its influence in Corea and to guide that unfortunate country toward a better economic and social condition, without unduly wounding Corean susceptibilities. It is plain that in this the Japanese have not succeeded. They had before them the examples of such men as Sir Andrew Clarke in the Malay States, Lieutenant-General Meade in India, and Lord Cromer in Egypt, but they did not meet the situation which confronted them with a similar success. Though their problem may have offered greater difficulties, the Japanese are held responsible for not having avoided the use of crass methods. The author criticises them for continuing military control long after it has become unnecessary, and he sees in the coldness and secretiveness of their nature, in a certain social unadaptiveness, one of the causes of their failure. He looks upon the supercession of the foreign custom service under Mr. McLeavy Brown as a distinct injury to British interests. In the last chapter of Part I, the author gives a masterly outline of the general Japanese position in South Manchuria and Corea.

The chapters of Part II give an adequate idea of the great popular forces that have been set in motion in China, and help us to appreciate the deep significance of the crisis. Events move rapidly even in China, and the details of the political situation have already been modified in important respects since this book has been written; thus the power of Viceroy Yuan for a time suffered a serious eclipse. Tieh-liang no longer stands for the Viceroy's program; indeed, it was mainly through him that H. E. Yuan's military position was undermined. To the difficulties by which Yuan's program is confronted, there must now be added direct personal attacks made upon him through memorials, denun