--THE DOMINIONS AND COLONIAL OFFICES. By Sir G. V. Fiddes,
G.C.M.G. (Putnams. 7s. 6d. net.)—The Colonial Office, as we are accustomed to call it, has now its volume in these publishers' useful series of Departmental histories. Sir George Fiddes knows his subject intimately, and has seen the work "from the other end" in one Dominion at least. He writes with an admirable detachment from per- sonalities, though he must have. his own opinions of how the characters and the wits at any rate of recent Secretaries of State and officials have affected the development of the work and policies. This is the right official spirit. The history extends from the Committee of the Privy Council appointed in 1660 " for the Plantations " down to the Colonial and; later, the Imperiitl COnferences and -the "division Of work in- to the .Dominions and Colonial.0filees. It givesnninspiring story of ltow .the. Plantations, the Companies of Adxenturers and even seeds of ignoble origin have blossomed into the great Community of nations, which were recognized as co-equal sicrnatories with European nations of the Treaty of Versailles: It also impresses the ubiquity of the Empire as represented in every Continent by the Crown Colonies, and. will help the reader to imagine the variety of the work of the Office. With great restraint, here as elsewhere, Sir George merely records published facts' and resolutions on the relations of the parts of the Empire in -regard to the League of Nations and future foreign affairs. ,,
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