The Pacific : its Past and Future. By Guy H.
Scholefield. (Murray. 15s. net.)—This well-informed history of the Pacific. islands from the eighteenth century was very much needed, and will remain a standard work of reference for some time to come. Mr. Seholefield, who as a New Zealander takes a special interest in the subject, will have to note in his second edition the definite exclusion of Germany from the Pacific ; when he wrote, he evidently feared lest the Allies should fail to satisfy the demand of Australia and New Zealand on this head. He expresses again and again his astonishment at the passivity of the old Colonial Office, which would not annex any islands until some other Power threatened to do so, and which, even then, was often too late in the field. He is probably right in saying that the Colonial Office in the " eighties " lacked candour in its dealings with the Colonies. But this was due rather to negli- gence and want of thought than to design. Until Mr. Chamber- lain became Minister, the Department had no political influence and no ideas. If the French had shown a little more energy, they might have had Fiji and Samoa for the asking as well as Tahiti and New Caledonia. The British policy was to avoid responsibility, and such a timid and foolish policy inevitably led to difficulties. Mr. Scholefield's narrative is well arranged and most interesting. There are some maps.
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