2 AUGUST 1930, Page 25

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(Continued from page 167.) We have already drawn attention to the commencement of a monumental edition of Documents Diplomatiques Francais, 1871-1914, to throw light on the origins of the War from the French standpoint just as the Grosse Polilik series does for Germany and the Diplomatic Documents for our own country. The French work is divided into three series, beginning with 1871, 1901 and 1912 respectively. The first volumes of the first and last series were published a few months ago. Now we have the first volume of the second series covering the year 1901 (Paris : Costes). It is most skilfully edited and admirably produced. A full subject index at the outset is a guide to the docuMents, which appear in order of date and thus can be read consecutively to give an idea of the movement of opinion. The South African War was still dragging on and the Continent was quiescent. Mr. Chamberlain infuriated the German public by a speech referring to the harshness of the German troops in France in 1870-1. Italy and France were on good terms and made a private arrangement giving Italy priority in Tripoli and France in Morocco. Our Foreign Office also assented to the Italian claim on Tripoli. The cautious states- men at Rome had still to wait ten years before they seized the coveted colony.