ON THE RIM OF THE ABYSS
Macmillan, 1936. First Edition. Hardcover with Dust Jacket. Second printing in the year of publication. 8vo, sewn binding in navy cloth, gilt spine lettering. deckled foreedge. Some penciling, sound otherwise; DJ edgeworn with some loss and tears, now in mylar. From the Dust Jacket: 'This book deals with the fundamentals of the international organization as revealed in the history of recent crises. The argument naturally centers upon the League of Nations, balancing failure against success, and draws conclusions which are a challenge to public opinion in the United States. Dr. Shotwell holds that the time has come to reconsider the nature of the League of Nations and of the relations of the United States to it in the light of recent history, and that the structure of international peace would be strengthened instead of weakened by a recognition of the fact that the interests of its Member States vary according to their geographical situation and special conditions due to the forces of history and economics. The book is both a history and a commentary upon history. It argues against the policy of 'isolation' embodied in the Neutrality Resolution of 1935 which Congress has recently extended; it interprets the Briand-Kellogg anti-war pact in the light of its subsequent history; and in a chapter on the Montevideo Conference describes political conditions in Latin America, efforts at cooperation there, and the Chaco war. It analyzes public opinion, especially in Great Britain and France, on international questions, and discusses the efforts that have been made to change the status quo in Europe. Two chapters are devoted to problems that have arisen in connection with Japan, containing a frank criticism of the way in which the Manchurian issue was handled. In the question of disarma-ment, which is dealt with realistic-ally, the author holds to the point of view that real progress in the limitation of armaments depends upon the extent to which the substitutes for war can be accepted and applied. Of these the chief is the one on which the world has been experimenting at Geneva for the last seventeen years. The book begins and ends with a consideration of the relation of the United States to the League. At the Peace Conference in 1919 Dr. Shot-well proposed associate membership for those States which could not accept all of the obligations of the Covenant. Substantially the same end would be achieved by the acceptance of the Congressional resolution proposed by Senator Pope in 1935, stating the terms and conditions on which the United States might join the League. Dr. Shotwell is Professor of History in Columbia University, and Director of the Division of Economics and History of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. As his readers know, his writing is always clear. his arguments and criticisms lucid, pointed, and temperately expressed.'. GOOD / Good. Item #508781
Price: $45.00