Britannic Confederation. Edited by A. S. White. (G. Philip. and
Son.)—This volume consists of articles by various authors, reprinted from the Scottish Geographical Magazine, looking at the- question of Imperial Federation from different points of view. Thus, Admiral Sir John Colomb contributes a general " Survey of. Existing Conditions," his main thesis being the urgent need a Federation for the purpose of defence. The late Professor Free-, man discusses " The Physical and Political Bases of National Unity," forcibly bringing forward the difficulties which appeared to him to render any scheme of Federation impossible. Mr. G. G. Chisholm writes on "The Commerce of the British Empire," and shows his usual skill in handling masses of figures in such a way as to give them life and suggestiveness. Professor Nicholson deals with Tariffs, and, as might be expected, deprecates the idea of England giving up in any degree its Free-trade policy in order to conciliate Colonial Protectionist prejudices, and bring about a fiscal union on "preferential" lines. On the contrary, be shows how the Colonies might, with immediate advantage to themselves, enter on the path of taxing " few articles instead of many," following what " has been the guiding principle of British financial reform for a century." He is bold to believe that this simplifica- tion of Colonial tariffs might, in a comparatively short time, lead to such an approximation to the English tariff as to pave the way to a fiscal union based on Free-trade- principles, which " would bind far more closely than a nominal association for defence." Principal Hervey, of the Illawarra College, New South Wales, discusses the alternative policies of Federation or Disintegration somewhat discursively from the Colonial standpoint ; and Lord Thring concludes the series of articles with a paper in which he favours the suggestion that the first step towards Federation can only come from the Colonies themselves offering to contribute men and money to the formation of an Imperial army and navy. The partially conflicting views of these writers are dealt with (but without direct reference to the present volume) in a book which treats the whole subject comprehensively,--Imperial Federation, by G. R. Parkin, M.A.,
(Macmillan). Mr. Parkin writes well on the question which he has so much at heart. His book is interesting, alike from the lucidity of his style, from the enthusiasm of his faith in the ideal of national organic unity, and from his moderation and fair- mindedness in looking at the many obstacles which seem to some of us to stand in the way of the realisation of that ideal.
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