The Independent State Of The Congo And The General Act Of Berlin

Statehood in the early 21st century remains as much a central problem as it was in 1979 when the first edition of The Creation of States in International Law was published. As Rhodesia, Namibia, the South African Homelands and Taiwan then were subjects of acute concern, today governments, international organizations, and other institutions are seized of such matters as the membership of Cyprus in the European Union, application of the Geneva Conventions to Afghanistan, a final settlement for Kosovo, and, still, relations between China and Taiwan. All of these, and many other disputed situations, are inseparable from the nature of statehood and its application in practice. The remarkable increase in the number of States in the 20th century did not abate in the twenty five years following publication of James Crawford's landmark study, which was awarded the American Society of International Law Prize for Creative Scholarship in 1981. The independence of many small territories comprising the 'residue' of the European colonial empires alone accounts for a major increase in States since 1979; while the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the USSR in the early 1990s further augmented the ranks. With these developments, the practice of States and international organizations has developed by substantial measure in respect of self-determination, secession, succession, recognition, de-colonization, and several other fields. Addressing such questions as the unification of Germany, the status of Israel and Palestine, and the continuing pressure from non-State groups to attain statehood, even, in cases like Chechnya or Tibet, against the presumptive rights of existing States, James Crawford discusses the relation between statehood and recognition; the criteria for statehood, especially in view of evolving standards of democracy and human rights; and the application of such criteria in international organizations and between states. Also discussed are the mechanisms by which states have been created, including devolution and secession, international disposition by major powers or international organizations and the institutions established for Mandated, Trust, and Non-Self-Governing Territories. Combining a general argument as to the normative significance of statehood with analysis of numerous specific cases, this fully revised and expanded second edition gives a comprehensive account of the developments which have led to the birth of so many new states.

This 1898 publication documents the controversial colonial history of the Congo Free State during the reign of King Leopold II.

This report treats in detail of the tariff policies of the colonial powers and of the self-governing Dominions of the British Empire. Part 1 contains chapters on tariffs and tariff policies in the colonies of Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain (Crown Colonies and India), Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United States, with some general descriptive and historical matter. The tables of contents prefixed to each chapter, and the general index will enable the reader readily to locate the discussion of any phase of the subject in which he may be especially interested. Part II sets forth the development of the preferential tariff policy in the British Empire, with chapters on Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland. A large part of the Introduction and Summary is based upon the material contained in other chapters, but it begins with an outline of the rise of modern colonial empires. After establishing to necessary distinctions between the different kinds of colonies, it discusses the characteristics and importance of colonial trade. The summaries of the other chapters of the report include brief statements of the general policy of each of the colonial powers, but the survey of colonial tariff policies is mainly developed subject by subject. In the sections of the Introduction and Summary devoted to treaty obligations, import duties, export duties, intercolonial trade, the treatment of colonial products in the market of the mother country, and minor and concealed preferences the reader will find a general presentation of those topics. It is felt that the material presented in this chapter will be sufficient to introduce the subject, and it has been published separately under the title Introductory Survey of Colonial Tariff Policies, which may be obtained from the Government Printing Office for 10 cents a copy.

The classic reference work that provides annually updated information on the countries of the world.

In the eyes of both contemporaries and historians, the United States became an empire in 1898. By taking possession of Cuba and the Philippines, the nation seemed to have reached a watershed moment in its rise to power—spurring arguments over whether it should be a colonial power at all. However, the questions that emerged in the wake of 1898 built on long-standing and far-reaching debates over America’s place in the world. Andrew Priest offers a new understanding of the roots of American empire that foregrounds the longer history of perceptions of European powers. He traces the development of American thinking about European imperialism in the years after the Civil War, before the United States embarked on its own overseas colonial projects. Designs on Empire examines responses to Napoleon III’s intervention in Mexico, Spain and the Ten Years’ War in Cuba, Britain’s occupation of Egypt, and the carving up of Africa at the Berlin Conference. Priest shows how observing and interacting with other empires shaped American understandings of the international environment and their own burgeoning power. He highlights ambivalence among American elites regarding empire as well as the prevalence of notions of racial hierarchy. While many deplored the way powerful nations dominated others, others saw imperial projects as the advance of civilization, and even critics often felt a closer affinity with European imperialists than colonized peoples. A wide-ranging book that blends intellectual, political, and diplomatic history, Designs on Empire sheds new light on the foundations of American power.

Mter an international organization is established, if it is necessary for it to acquire certain rights or assume duties or new functions not provided in its constitution, there are four techniques to achieve that 1 end. The first is to amend the constitution of the organization. If the organization has only a limited number of members, then this technique is not too cumbersome. But, the procedure for amending a constitution is usually complicated and requires a substantial period of time. Thus this technique has at least the disadvantage of delay. 2 The second technique is to conclude a treaty among the member States of the organization. The organization is not a party to that treaty, but it can acquire some rights, assume some duties, or new functions under the treaty. 3 The disadvantage of this technique is similar to the first one, i. e. , the conclusion of a multilateral treaty may mean delay since the procedure involved is so complicated and cumber some. 1 E. g. , the Constitution of the ILO, Cmd. No. 393 (T. S. No. 4 of 1919), [1919] 13 Foreign ReI. U. S. : Paris Conf. 695 (1947), was amended on October 9, 1946,62 Stat. 3485, T. I. A. S. No. 1868, 15 U. N. T. S.