Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ... permit the other to act in a specified way. A nation may agree by treaty either to admit or actively to support the right of a particular family to rule over another nation: to allow or actively to assist another nation to annex or absorb territory previously independent or subject to another government: to give upon stipulated conditions certain commercial privileges to the members of another nation: to adopt certain methods of warfare in any future dispute with another nation, or to allow to its members certain privileges and immunities if they should be in a position of neutrals when the nation so agreeing is at war. Treaties may be made for the purpose of enunciating the terms upon which a victorious nation consents to make peace with a conquered nation: or for the establishment between nations which have common interests of an alliance which may be of any degree of closeness between that of a permanent confederacy and that of common but independent exertions for the attainment of a specified object. The common comparison of a treaty to a contract between individuals is likely to mislead because of the great differences due to the absence of positive law or anything nearly resembling it to enforce the agreement1. In fact a treaty is no 1 It has however been already explained that though there is no law by which governments are compelled to keep treaties more than a solemn statement by the representatives of two nations of the present intention of those nations to do that which they agree to do. Nations are necessarily inclined by moral motives to observe the promises thus made: the breach of a treaty by one party will almost necessarily excite indignation in the other party or parties to it, and may excite indignation in nations not...
