Declaration of War. By Douglas Owen. (Stevens and Sons.)— Though
largely and inevitably of the nature of a compilation, this
is nevertheless a valuable work of its kind. There are in existence both treatises on international law and works on shipping and marine insurance, but, as Mr. Owen points out, the former are "so interlarded with the views and opinions of learned theorists, both ancient and modern, and amplified with various international con- siderations of a purely political character, as to be much more valuable to the student of International Law than for purposes of ready mercantile reference ;" while in the latter, as a rule, ques- tions in connection with the subject of warlike exigencies are not classed by themselves. Mr. Owen's book is specially written with a view to consulting the convenience of the practical inquirer who has neither time nor inclination to read the works of publicists either in the past or the present, but who wishes to know some- thing of the Law of Nations, shipping, and marine insurance. His book is very well arranged to meet the wishes of the constituency to which it appeals. Starting with a retrospect indicating the harsh foundation on which the Law of Nations is supported, and Sununarising the circumstances which have placed that law on its present footing, he proceeds to set forth the principles of domicile and ownership. Then follows a chapter on the Declaration of Paris. This leads to the really important portion of the book, that which deals with the rights and obligations both of combatants and of non-combatants, under the titles of "Belligerent Bights against the Enemy," "Belligerent Rights against Neutrals," "Belligerent Municipal Rights," "Belligerent Obligations," and "Neutral Rights and Obligations." Here ends the essentially maritime portion of the book. What may be termed the mercantile portion is treated of under the heads of "War Warranties," "Mis- representation and Concealment of Facts material to a Risk submitted for Insurance," "Void Insurances," "Insurable In- terest of Captors," "Effect of War on Contract," and "Piracy." Mr. Owen supports the propositions which he advances, both by quotations from the treatises of recognised authorities in inter- national law, and by historical "cases." He does not, however, advance any very startling theories of his own, or hazard any more formidable prediction than that, for example, it is improbable that the question of contraband in any European war will assume in the future the prominence that it has occupied in the past, because a belligerent is not likely to import contraband of war at the risk of capture, if he can procure it in a neighbouring neutral market, which is now no very difficult matter, in consequenoe of the facilities afforded by railway communication. Mr. Owen's book supplies an unquestionable want, and perhaps the only fault that can be found with it is that it is rather bulky.
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