The Times." To be accurately informed of the details of all the questions of the day is becoming more and more difficult. The questions not only become more numerous, but we hear so much more about them that they seem also to grow more ramified. Mr. Whates's POLITICIAN'S HANDBOOK (Vacher, Broad Sanctuary Chambers, Westminster) will be welcomed by many a legislator anxious to refresh his memory on some point that crops up suddenly in the House; by many a journalist tormented by imperfect recollection of the march of events; by many a newspaper reader puzzled by references to chains of circumstance which have altogether slipped his mind. Here, for instance, is a long, but at the same time concise, account of the negotiations which led up to the war in South Africa; another page gives the text of the temporary agreement as to the Alaska Boundary Question; the Samoan Commissioners' report is lucidly summarised, and the terms of the Convention set out; and so on with all the subjects, domestic as well as foreign, which have occupied attention during the past year. When it is added that the information has been arranged so as to be easy of reference, it will be seen that THE POLITICIAN'S HANDBOOK is a work of reference that should never be far from the politician's hand." The Standard." THE POLITICIAN'S HANDBOOK may now take rank as an established work of reference, which will be found useful not only by Members of Parliament and professed publicists, but also by everybody who wishes to obtain a concise and accurate knowledge of recent events." LEADING FEATURES OF PREVIOUS ISSUES. POLITICIAN'S HANDBOOK, 1899. Among the principal contents of this issue are : Niger Convention-Soudanese Revolt (Uganda)-China Papers covering occupation of Kiaochau, Russo-Chinese Manchurian Railway Agreement, Port Arthur and Talienwan Negotiations, Non-alienation of the Yangtsze Region, Concessions to England-Cretan Negotiations-Tsar's Peace Conference Proposals-Report on Egypt-Soudan; Convention-Anglo-French Negotiations e M. Marchand and Valley of the Nile-Anglo-French Negotiations re Madagascar-Newfoundland, Reid Contract-Old Age Pensions, Report of Committee-Correspondence with South African Republic-Sugar Bounties Conference-Report of Tuberculosis Commission-Turkey and Greece Peace Negotiations and Treaty-Report of West India Royal Commission-China Commercial Reports-Colonial Reports-Text of various Conventions, Notes, etc. POLITICIAN'S HANDBOOK, 1900. Among the principal contents of this enlarged and improved issue are : An exhaustive presentation of all African Documents - Report on Egypt-Sir W. Garstin's Special Report on Soudan - Niger Convention, addition to Sierra Leone Commission Report Papers relating to South Africa from presentation of Boer Claim for Damages on Account of Raid to Boer Ultimatum of October 9th, 1899 - Macdonald Expedition (Nile Valley)—Alaska Modus Vivendi-Anglo-German Agreement, Samoa-Army and Navy Estimates-Pure Beer Bill Committee-Budget Statement-Queen's Speeches-China Papers covering Anglo-Russian Railway Negotiations and Agreement, Coup d'Etat, Concessions to European Powers, Loan Negotiations, Opening of New Ports, Northern Railway's Extension Prospectus and Negotiations, Pekin Syndicate (Shansi Agreement), Russo-Chinese Agreement (Port Arthur and Talienvvan), Wei-hai-Wei (Assurances to Germany), Text of Wei-hai-Wei Lease, etc.-Cretan SettlementIndian Papers-Report of Royal Commission on Licensing-Boundary Question between British Guiana and Venezuela (Evidence and Decision of Arbitral Tribunal)—Colonial Reports-Selection of Commercial Reports, principally China. [The above issues may still be had for Six Shillings net each volume. But, as only a limited stock remains on hand in each case, and as back numbers will not be reprinted and the original documents become in course of time unobtainable, subscribers who do not already possess the earlier issues are recommended to obtain them without delay.] A REVIEW AND DIGEST OF THE STATE PAPERS, BY H. WHATES SESSION 1901 Westminster VACHER & SONS, BROAD SANCTUARY CHAMBERS AND 20 & 22, MILLBANK STREET Third Salisbury Administration, 1895-1900." Royal 8vo, pp. 531, with Maps, Treaties and other Diplomatic By H. WHATES, Author of "Dissolution Dialogues," "The Politician's Handbook," &c., &c. Price 15s. net. YACHER & SONS, Broad Sanctuary Chambers, and 20 and 22, Millbank St., Westminster. TIMES.-"What Mr. Whates had previously done to meet the needs of the politician grappling with the problems of a single session is now supplemented by a survey of the entire record of Lord Salisbury's Third Administration.. The tangled story of diplomatic and military events is clearly told." STANDARD. "We are glad to be able to point out the many ways in which this book can be made useful by every practical politician and by every citizen desirous of obtaining a firm grasp of the questions of the hour.” MORNING POST.-"A more opportune book there could not be.... On the China Question Mr. Whates writes with knowledge and judgment; and his history of events which followed the conclusion of the China-Japanese War up to the Russian Note of a fortnight ago is one of the best things in his extremely able and valuable book." DAILY NEWS (leading article).-"The work will be highly appreciated by students of politics. Mr. Whates writes in a pleasant and lucid way, and the literary merits of his book will give it more than an ephemeral value as the record of an extremely eventful chapter of modern history." DAILY CHRONICLE.-"The facts which Mr. Whates presents so skilfully and with a practised hand are taken from official sources. . . . Most useful and lucid." ST. JAMES'S GAZETTE. -" Mr. Whates's opinions will excite both [approval and criticism]. His judgments are sane and discriminating. He writes as a supporter of the Government, but he is no heady partisan, and does not shrink from censuring shortcomings." WESTMINSTER GAZETTE.—“ A useful, careful, and exceedingly readable summary of the foreign affairs, which were the chief preoccupation of the Ministry. Mr. Whates is impartial, or at least strenuously endeavours to be." SPECTATOR.-"Mr. Whates has the merits of a clear and dignified style, an eminently sane and independent judgment and a power of grouping details so as to form a striking picture. We have no hesitation in saying that this is the best book of its kind we have yet seen. Mr. Whates writes as a Conservative, but he can take a line of his own, and his estimate of the Jameson Raid and the events which followed is perfectly impartial and free from any party bias. In such parts as we have tested his facts we have found them thoroughly reliable. Mr. Whates's account of the Venezuela affair is a model of a clear and judicial statement, and the same is true of his summary of events in China.... A book such as this is eminently useful, and since Mr. Whates is full of references and prints at length all important treaties and diplomatic papers, it should take its place as the material of future history." SPEAKER." Mr. Whates's volume is admirably accurate and full, and the expression of his personal view is, almost without exception, only subordinated to the record of actual events.... On the thorny subject of South Africa, Mr. Whates has also written honestly and with moderation, and his account will be acceptable to very many of his countrymen.'" ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS.-" An admirably terse and accurate narrative of political events, foreign and domestic, for the past five years.... Mr. Whates's standpoint is evidently that of a very independent Conservative, and he doesn't hesitate to criticise Lord Salisbury's Chinese policy and Mr. Chamberlain's shortcomings." PUNCH.-"A monumental work of well-directed energy.... Orderly in its arrangement, impartial in its treatment, lucid in its style, my Baronite recommends the book for a handy shelf in the studies of all concerned with public affairs." WESTERN MERCURY.-"The book ought to occupy a place in every politician's library and be accessible at every political club. We hope Mr. Whates will continue his labours, for there was real need and a place for a book of this nature. Mr. Whates is an accurate chronicler, and politicians, to whatever party they belong, will draw upon his work for their facts and consult it for their references." BRISTOL TIMES.-" A work remarkable for its thoroughness and fairness." QUARTERLY REVIEW.-"It will be entirely the fault of the Unionist Government if, writing five years hence, a friendly critic like Mr. Whates is not able to pass a more favourable judgment on the correspondence, with the expectations raised at election times, than that contained in his interesting and useful book." WORLD.-"The author asks why, at the Dissolution of a Parliament, the life story of a Ministry, which has controlled its destinies, should not be produced in like manner to the biography of a distinguished man whose career has been closed by death; and one obvious answer is that, as a rule, the biographers of Governments are unable to shake themselves sufficiently free from bias and prejudice to render their work acceptable to the student of history. To this rule, however, Mr. Whates proves himself a welcome exception. He holds no brief either for or against the Ministry whose failures and successes, merits and demerits,' are indicated in his faithful survey of facts and events; and though he does not withhold expressions of opinion they are always so reasonable and free from animus as to command the assent of all who are not hopelessly blinded by the spirit of faction.... A very valuable contribution to political history." credit." ATHENŒUM.—“A sound volume. . . . We have tested Mr. Whates's accuracy, and the result is to his GRAPHIC.-"Mr. Whates devotes 125 pages to the history of the War. and more impartial summary. . . . An earnest and successful effort to record in a practical and straightforward manner the life history of the Administration." Similar reviews and leading articles have appeared in many other journals, and in all the important provincial papers, the work being treated as a serious contribution to contemporary history rather than to party controversy. 69166 FES 13 1903 PREFACE. As was explained in the Preface to the first volume, the purpose of the POLITICIAN'S HANDBOOK is to furnish the Governing, Literary, and Commercial classes with the essential information given in Diplomatic Correspondence, Parliamentary Papers, new Treaties, Reports of Royal Commissions, and other Documents issued by the Government. Two principles have been observed in the preparation of the Digest: the literal reproduction of such parts of the Documents as are of historical value; and the incorporation of official facts and expressions of opinion bearing upon present and prospective events and likely to be serviceable to those who are interested or professionally engaged in current controversies. As before, the book is divided into two sections, Political and Commercial, and in each the topics are classified-as far as they lend themselves to classification and are given in alphabetical order; but as this arrangement does not make the work completely self-indexing, a full index is also given at the end. It has been thought advisable to write a brief introductory Review upon the principal Documents. This contains statements of opinion on which general agreement cannot be expected. The aim of the writer has been to supply an exposition of the course of Diplomacy in certain Foreign and Colonial questions and to bring out into clearer relief than was possible in the Digest the political and other results of the activity of the Despatch writers and Treaty makers. The standpoint from which Correspondence and Treaties are dealt with in this Review has not, however, been allowed to influence the preparation of the Digest. In that part of the book absolute impartiality has been attempted. Arguments with which the writer has little sympathy are presented equally with those which seem to him to command acceptance. In the Commercial Section much of the space is occupied with official communications bearing upon the trade of the Far East. No attempt is made to present the points of the entire series of Consular Reports. Many of these Documents are needlessly belated—as, indeed, are the Reports from the minor Colonies. And some are singularly destitute of useful or interesting information. Only such Reports are selected for treatment as either relate to current international questions or contain matter which throws light upon economic and social changes in the districts where the Consuls reside. The thanks of Editor and Publishers are again tendered to the news |