International Law and Diplomacy of the Spanish-American War [1908]

Reprint of the only edition, published as part of the Albert Shaw Lectures on Diplomatic History at Johns Hopkins University. Benton sets out to provide an exploration of Spanish-American relations prior to and during the war, drawing on the example of Le Fur's Étude sur la Guerre Hispano-Americaine de 1898, Envisagée au Point de Vue du Droit International Public (1899) and similar studies. "A serious effort has been made to present the subject dispassionately, but the point of view throughout is American; the greater part of the sources have an American origin, and the aim has been to exhibit the foreign policy and practice of the United States during this period, both as a neutral and as a belligerent" (Preface). "It is a particularly full treatment of the subject and contains no evidence of preconceived ideas which the author is determined to prove. He confines himself principally to facts, leaving interpretation to his readers. [...] While the reader may differ with the author as to the inferences to be drawn from the facts presented, the work is an exceptionally thoughtful and instructive presentation of international practice during this period."Hugh S. GibsonThe American Journal of International Law 2, no. 3 (1908): 708-710 Elbert J. Benton [1871-1946] was a professor of history at Case Western Reserve University.300 pp.