Some Books of the Week
h.:the modern university a new and hybrid subject is coming to the fore, namely, political geography. Like most of the other sub-divisions of the Humanities it is woefully inadequate as a mental training for undergraduates. The importance of a knowledge of geography in the study of international relations, on the other hand, can scarcely be overrated. Professor Herbert Adams Gibbons, of Princeton, surely ranks as a pioneer in writing contemporary history with a strong geographical background, and he is to be heartily commended on his enterprise. To his surveys of Europe, Asia; and Africa, he has now added The New Map of South America (Cape, 12s. 6d.). We are told a great deal about the natural resources and the political development of each of the Latin American Republics in turn, yet by his careful sifting of the vast material at his disposal, and by a studied impartiality and attractiveness of presentation, the author impels us to read on with growing interest, and we are rewarded by chapters on the Monroe Doctrine and Pan-Americanism which are models of incisive and telling exposition :
" . . . above all, the odium attached to the Monroe Doctrine in the minds of most Spanish-speaking Americans is due to our national lack of tact in dealing with Latins. We are not frank. We do not understand the philosophy of form. We want to remain the big fellow. The big fellow is always feared. We want to pose as a benefactor. A benefactor is always hated."
Well said ! To those of us who have eyes for the future impor- tance of the countries of Latin America, this book is
an indispensable vale mecum.
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