Page images
PDF
EPUB

Talk About Books

International Realities, by Philip Marshall Brown, Professor of International Law at Princeton University. Pp. XVI, 233. New York, Scribner, 1917. $1.40 net.

Prof. Brown has been deeply impressed by the incoherence and insufficiency of existing international law. Especially fired is he by the attention given at Hague Conference and in international law text-books to the laws of war. "The law of war," says Prof. Brown, "is the very negation of law itself. International Law cannot concern itself with the suspension of law. Its mission is to regulate the peaceful relations of States."

"The true function of International Law is not to govern war, it is to avert war."

How is this end to be achieved? By developing International Law out of Realities instead of Dreams. The fundamental reality, the only sound basis of the whole system of International Law is, in the author's opinion, nationalism. It is our duty therefore to discover and formulate the laws of association which should determine national development. The only sane principle to follow in that development is the rule of an enlightened self-interest, or, as Spinoza expressed it, "Imperii virtus, securitas," the supreme aim of the State is the security of the State.

Considering the manner in which enlightened self-interest should seek to make a State secure by substituting for warfare the institutions of law administered by National agencies, Prof. Brown studies the subject briefly from many points of view; thus: STATE RIGHTS? States have no absolute rights not even to sovereignty and independence. Their rights spring from the legal recognition of definite interests. ARBITRATION? At best it is only a limited auxiliary of Diplomacy. Nations have as yet no common conception of rights and obligations.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS? No sovereign world-State would, for a long time to come, be endured. The present need is a clearer understanding of the mutual interests of States and the improvement of international law. NEUTRALITY? It is "a weird thing" and "usually ignominious." "It is the positive duty of a nation to assist actively in the maintenance of international order and justice."

PACIFISM? Those who belittle loyalty to

the State cannot render much service to a vague World-State which does not yet

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

2. An international bankruptcy law to apply to States in financial difficulties. 8.

An international law enabling aliens to obtain damages for unjust acts of States. 4. An act to determine and protect the rights of aliens in times of riot and civil disturbance.

5. An act defining and establishing rights of universal citizenship.

In formulating these and other laws for the regulation of States at peace, Prof. Brown posits three basic principles:

Community of Interests between separate nations;

Autonomy, i.e., local self-government for each nation;

International Free Trade between nations.

The word that sums up the mutual relations of States that acknowledge "the compulsive force of reciprocal advantage" is Interdependence.

Such is a hasty outline of this very readable and suggestive essay. It would be easy to point out important international realities which Prof. Brown has barely noticed or has altogether ignored, as the Central American Union and Court of Justice; the influence of the 450 private and the 50 public, international associations; religious institutions, their antagonisms and their influence upon law and society; the marvelous migrations of modern races; the ideals of socialism and of organized labor; and pacifism which is swayed by ethical convictions only. Few students would be satisfied with his comments upon pacifism or upon the relations between democracy and diplomacy, but all who read the book will thank the author for his provocation and stimulus to profitable thinking.

Prepare for Better International Relations

Special Articles of Permanent Value to the Cause of International Progress Tell Your Friends to Get Them

[blocks in formation]

Address: WORLD COURT MAGAZINE, Equitable Bldg., 120 Broadway, New York

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]
[blocks in formation]

Prepare for Better International Relations

Special Articles of Permanent Value to the Cause of International Progress

Tell Your Friends to Get Them

PLATFORM OF THE WORLD'S COURT LEAGUE, by Charles H. Levermore.

THE MOVEMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL JusTICE AND JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT, by James Brown Scott.

EXISTING FOUNDATIONS FOR JUDICIAL SETTLEMENTS, by Denys P. Myers. WHAT THE LEAGUE TO ENFORCE PEACE PROPOSES, by William Howard Taft. FOUR OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSALS OF THE LEAGUE TO ENFORCE PEACE, by William Jennings Bryan.

INTERNATIONAL OUTLAWRY AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR FORCE, by Simeon E. Baldwin.

THE WORK OF INTERNATIONAL REBUILDING, by Henri La Fontaine.

In World Court Magazine for December. Price, 10 Cents. THE DEMAND FOR A TRUE INTERNATIONAL COURT, by Theodore Marburg. POWER OF THE SUPREME COURT OVER DEFENDANT STATES, by Jackson H. Ralston.

WHY THE APPARENTLY HELPLESS SUPREME COURT SUCCEEDS, by William I. Hull.

THE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN AMERICAN COLLEGES, by Charles H. Levermore.

WHAT MUST BE THE BASIS OF A DURABLE PEACE? by "Cosmos."

THE LATEST CHAPTER IN CENTRAL AMERICA, by Denys P. Myers.

In World Court Magazine for January. Price, 10 Cents. How TO STUDY THE PROBLEMS OF THE WAR, by Norman Angell.

A WORKING LIBRARY FOR STUDENTS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, by Charles H. Levermore.

OUR NEW WEST INDIAN AMERICANS, by Denys P. Myers.

HISTORIC PROPOSALS FOR LEAGUES OF WORLD PEACE, by Sterling E. Edmunds. THE SCHEME FOR A LEAGUE OF NATIONS, by H. N. Brailsford.

UNIVERSITY TEACHERS' CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, by John Mez. In World Court Magazine

for February. Price, 10 Cents. AMERICAN CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE, by Charles H. Levermore.

FOUR PLANS FOR DURABLE PEACE, by William I. Hull.

INTERNATIONAL POLICE TO ENFORCE WORLD PEACE, by William Howard Taft. OPPOSITION ΤΟ FORCE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE LEAGUE, by Henry Cabot Lodge.

SOME PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED IN AN EFFORT TO ENFORCE PEACE, by Emerson McMillin.

WASHINGTON AND INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE, by James Brown Scott.

AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP AND JUSTICE IN JAPANESE RELATIONS, by Dr. T. Iyenaga. THE KIND OF PEACE SOCIALISTS CALL FOR, by Victor L. Berger and Others. INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF TRADE NECESSARY FOR PEACE, by John Davis.

A MINIMUM PROGRAM FOR ORGANIZING A
DURABLE PEACE.

In World Court Magazine
for March. Price 10 Cents.

THE NEW RUSSIA AND THE NEW INTER-
NATIONALISM, by Victor S. Yarros.

AN INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF CONCILIA-
TION, by Fannie Fern Andrews.
WORLD ORGANIZATION AFTER THE WAR,
by a Member of the League to Enforce
Peace.

THE NEW YORK STATE PLAN FOR UNI-
VERSAL TRAINING, by John H. Finley.
EDUCATIONAL PREPAREDNESS, by Paul
Monroe.

DECLARATION OF AMERICAN LABOR'S PoSITION IN PEACE OR IN WAR, by Samuel Gompers and Others.

THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS, a British manifesto.

In World Court Magazine
for April. Price, 10 Cents.

Sent Postpaid on Receipt of Price

Address: WORLD COURT MAGAZINE, Equitable Bldg., 120 Broadway, New York

« PreviousContinue »