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It is of interest to observe the author's views concerning the breach of treaties, at this time when the European war has thrown so much doubt upon their binding force and worth. "It is," the author asserts, "in the desire of each nation to maintain its standing with other nations that treaties have their chief sanction," and he quotes Twiss approvingly in the statement, that "The sanction of the positive law of nations is found in the isolation of the state which disregards it." His conclusion is that "The pains with which nations, as well as all individuals with self-respect, attempt to explain away charges of breach of faith but shows the force of the sanction. No nation can long maintain treaty relations and a standing with other nations, and persistently refuse to abide by its promise. Seldom indeed would the sanction prove ineffectual were the fact of the breach to be determined by an independent and impartial tribunal recognized as such by the parties." Controversies over the interpretation and enforcement of treaties would seem to the author to be of the nature of justifiable disputes which could well be left to some international tribunal for adjudication.

FOUILLEE, A., CHARMONT, J., DUGUIT, L., AND DEMOGUE, R. (Translated from the French by Mrs. Franklin W. Scott and Joseph P. Chamberlain). Modern French Legal Philosophy. Modern Legal Philosophy Series, Volume VII. The Boston Book Co., Boston. 1916.

This volume is especially welcome at this time, when interest in European conceptions of law and the state has been so greatly stimulated by the war. It is significant, too, that this book presents the most recent French thought on the philosophy of law; indeed, three of the four authors, although long professors in representative French universities, have produced much of their work during the last five years. Throughout the book are abundant references to contemporary French periodicals.

The authors, although voicing different schools of thought, are distinguishably French in their viewpoints. The book is therefore likely to interest the average American reader, who has always shown a marked intellectual sympathy with French thought, especially with its practical philosophy of the state. In purely legal concepts, we may be more English than French; but in the realm of philosophy, we are more French than English,-instance Bergson.

While the book is one in its purpose and organization, it is really four volumes in one, by four of the greatest modern authorities on French legal philosophy. Part I, which presents a brief survey of that philosophy, deals with the general characteristics of French legal thought from the psychological and historical standpoints (Fouillée), as well as presenting a review of the principal modern schools, including Positivism, Idealism, Solidarism, and Pragmatism (Charmont). Part II, which comprises the bulk of the volume, is less homogeneous. It deals with three problems: first, the synthesis of Idealism and Naturalism (Fouillée); second, the theory of objective law anterior to the state (Duguit), and, third, an analysis of

fundamental notions, being the first two-hundred pages of Demogue's latest and most important treatise, published in 1911.

The selections from the works of the authors represented are well chosen and arranged for the purposes of the book. The translation has been critically edited and is eminently readable. The average reader will be greatly aided in gaining a preliminary perspective of the volume by the introduction by Arthur W. Spencer, of the Editorial Committee, who gives a terse account of the authors and appends a list of their contributions to the literature of law.

It is becoming more evident, with every succeeding volume of the Modern Legal Philosophy Series, that its publication is a most fortunate event for us Americans, who have heretofore confessedly lacked familiarity with foreign literature on the law and have almost totally neglected the philosophy of law. The editors deserve much praise for the successful publication of the first seven volumes of a series so pertinent at a time when legal conceptions are undergoing fundamental revision and reconstruction.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

WOOD (H. G.) and MOORE (D. C.). Limitations of Actions. 2 Vols. Matthew Bender & Co., Albany, N. Y., 1916.

RIDDELL (W. R.). The Legal Profession in Upper Canada at Early Periods, The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, 1916.

MODERN FRENCH LEGAL PHILOSOPHY.
Boston Book Co., Boston, 1916.

Modern Legal Philosophy Series. The

CLAPP (E. J.). Economic Aspects of the War. Yale University Press, New Haven, 1915.

WALGREN (J. A.). Federal Employers' Liability Act. Practitioners Manual. T. H. Flood & Co., Chicago, 1916.

CRANDALL (S. B.). Treaties: Their Making and Enforcement. 2nd Ed. John Byrne & Co., Washington, D. C., 1916.

MCBAIN (H. L.). The Law and the Practice of Municipal Home Rule. Columbia University Press, New York, 1916.

CHAMBERLAIN (C. F.). Treatise on the Modern Law of Evidence. Vol. V. Media of Proof. Howard C. Joyce, Editor. Matthew Bender & Co., Albany, N. Y., 1916.

WRIGHTINGTON (S. R.). Law of Incorporated Associations. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1916.

BURDICK (C. K.). Cases on the Law of Public Service. Little, Brown & Co., Boston, 1916.

HAVEY (R. S.) and BRADFORD (E. W.). Manual of the Federal Trade Commission. John Byrne & Co., Washington, D. C., 1916.

All communications for the editor should be sent to

JOHN D. LAWSON,

14 South Broadway,

St. Louis, Mo.

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