Book Reviews and Notices : An Introduction to International Law. By J. G. STARKE. (London: Butterworth & Co., Ltd., Bell Yard, Temple Bar. 1947. Pp. xiv, 293, 23. Price, 25s., postage 11 d. extra.)

• Published date: 01 September 1948
• DOI: 10.1177/106591294800100341
• Author: Wendell B. Anderson
• Date: 01 September 1948
• Subject Matter: Articles

349

An

interesting

chapter

is

devoted

to

an

examination

of

the

functions

of

international

morality.

Here

again

the

conclusions

are

negative

and

even

depressing.

Since

international

relations

are

governed

by

the

rule of

force

and

&dquo;as

international

law

is

partially

subservient

to

it,

and

partially

irrele-

vant

from

the

standpoint

of

power

politics,

it is

probable

that

international

morality

is

cast

for

a

corresponding

minor

role. - - -

It

follows

that

the

main

function

of

morality

in

the

international

society

does

not

consist

in

the

con-

trol

of

one’s

own

behaviour

but

in

the

use

of

morality

as

a

powerful

weapon

against

potential

and

actual

adversaries.&dquo;

It

was

hoped

that

the

League

of

Nations

might

help

to

solve

this

prob-

lem

but

the

major

allied

powers

were

unwilling

to

surrender

the

ideas

of

state

sovereignty,

secret

diplomacy,

and

power

politics.

These

together

with

structural

defects

were

the

causes

for

its

failure

according

to

the

authors.

They

are

inclined

to

view

that

world

federalism

is

the

only

answer

to

the

present

dilemma.

The

United

Nations

is

examined

and

some

improvements

over

the

League

of

Nations

are

noted,

&dquo;but

the

question

whether

it

will

work

de-

pends,

not

upon

its

form,

but

upon

the

answer

to

the

question

whether

its

members

intend

to

work

it.&dquo;

It

is

recognized

merely

as

a

means

to

an

end

in

the

solution of

world

problems.

But

a

new

attitude,

a

change

of

heart

is

es-

sential

for

success.

Such

a

change

involves

an

educative

process

of

which

time

is

an

important

element.

The

structure

must

be

built

on

a

firm

founda-

tion

and

the

architects

must

build

with

stones

of

many

kinds

and

sizes

which

will

fit

the

needs

and

desires

of

many

peoples.

The

authors

are

to

be

commended

for

their

frankness,

even

fearless-

ness,

in

bringing

this

problem

into

the

open

where

it

can

be

pondered

and

analyzed

by

all

who

are

interested

in

a

better

world.

CHRISTEN

JENSEN.

Brigham

Young

University

.

An

Introduction

to

International

Law.

By

J.

G.

STARKE.

(London:

But-

terworth

&

Co.,

Ltd.,

Bell

Yard,

Temple

Bar.

1947.

Pp.

xiv,

293,

23.

Price,

25s.,

postage

11 d.

extra.)

The

author

is

of

the

Inner

Temple,

Barrister-at-Law.

He

formerly

was

a

member

of

the

legal

section,

League

of

Nations

Secretariat,

Geneva,

and

a

Vinerian

Law

Scholar,

Oxford.

This

work

is

of

an

introductory

nature

rather

than

an

exhaustive

treatise

on

each

branch

of

the

subject.

Yet,

it

is

not

too

elementary

for

the

university

student.

Theoretical

and

practical

aspects

are

well

balanced.

The

first

part

deals

with

those

principles

essential

to

an

understanding

of

the

nature,

basis,

scope

and

objectives

of

international

law.