Two Autograph Letters Signed to A[aron] J[onah] Jacobs.

British politician (1847-1923), member of House of Commons (1886-1892; 1893-1900), member of House of Lords after becoming Lord Weardale in 1905; president of two Interparliamentary Conferences (1890; 1906). These two items constitute a long and extremely interesting critique of Jacobs' 'Neutrality versus justice: an essay on international relations' (1917). LETTER ONE: nine pages, 12mo. Very good, on three bifoliate letterheads. While fully agreeing with 'the general purport and conclusions' of Jacobs' book, Weardale puts forward criticisms chiefly bearing on 'the guarantee of "territorial integrity" ', which he thinks 'would be an insurmountable difficulty, as long as subject races are still included within the territorial limits of different countries.' Among the examples he gives is that of 'an independent Poland', which 'we all of us hope to see', but 'is by no means a foregone conclusion'. Discusses 'the formation of conditions which would be generally acceptable and at the same time effective' [...] In the United States of America there is [...] a large body of public opinion, of which President Wilson has recently been theh eloquent spokesman, who view this question from a higher & nobler standpoint [...] I believe that this war will leave us with a very different world [...] even in Germany, though probably crushed and in a military sense inarticulate, there will remain a strong body of opinion dreaming of Frederick the Great and the great era which he inaugurated by his militarist zeal'. Urges the 'enactment of an International Compact for mutual protection', which would 'enormously stimulate [^ the agitation for] the creation of an International Tribunal & a recognised International Code, and obligatory submission of international disputes to legal decision'. LETTER TWO: three pages, 12mo. Folded once. Good, though grubby and slightly discoloured. Thanks Jacobs for drawing his attention to 'the paragraph in your draft pamphlet which deals specifically with the delicate question of subject races'. He is 'glad to recognise how frankly you acknowledge the difficulties of the point to which I drew your attention'. Discusses the 'qualified independence' that Poland will probably obtain 'as a result of the present War'. 'I think your pamphlet most able and the thesis it contains one of enormous value and importance which will have to be duly considered when these grave matters come up for settlement [...] although idealist myself, I have come to recognise that we cannot hope to accomplish great achievements wihout much preparatory work, many disappointments, and probably only slow and measured progress in these directions'. Both items signed 'Weardale'.