The Origins of American Expansion in Hawaii and Samoa, 1865–1900

From Nixon to Reagan, official US perceptions of West German trade with the Soviet Union (Osthandel) underwent a remarkable evolution. Despite initial skepticism, the Nixon and Ford administrations placed no major obstacles to West German–Soviet economic relations. Carter, however, changed the situation. His stance on human rights and economic sanctions against the Soviets for various developments - along with his belief that West Germany should follow the United States' lead - led Carter to ask Schmidt to curtail Osthandel, an action that contributed to Schmidt's notoriously poor relationship with the US President. Despite coming from a different political party, Reagan initially continued Carter's outlook on Osthandel. Yet rather than emphasize human rights, he publicly stressed Poland's self-determination as the reason to implement his aggressive policy to curb trade with the USSR, even though his advisers feared the strategic implications of greater German dependence on Soviet energy. Carter's and Reagan's early approaches were ineffective. Their actions, especially the latter's, strained US relations with Germany, the United States' most important ally in central Europe. Equally important, both Carter's and Reagan's policies undermined détente with Moscow. Because Nixon and Ford's approach to Osthandel harmed neither US–German relations nor US–Soviet relations, these presidents' responses had conspicuous advantages over succeeding administrations.     

The Sino‐Soviet Conference, 1924–1927

Soviet Union issued two declarations toward China in 1919 and 1920, promising to nullify all treaty privileges in China previously established by the Tsarist government voluntarily. However, in the formal negotiations Karakhan insisted that old treaties must be replaced by new treaty. Finally, the Sino‐Soviet Agreement, literarily, “Agreement on General Principles for the Settlement of Outstanding Questions”, signed in May 1924 and diplomatic relations restored at once, a conference was stipulated to meet within one month to solve all questions and to conclude a formal treaty. Nevertheless, the conference was postponed for more than a year; when it did convene too many controversies led it nowhere. Since no treaty was produced at the Sino‐Soviet Conference, the old treaties were not abolished, therefore the Soviet's promises were never practiced.     

The Cape‐to‐Cairo railway

Among the Berbers of Algeria. By Anthony Wilkin. London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1900. Pp. xiv + 263. Price 16s.

The Siege of Kumassi. By Lady Hodgson. New York: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1901. Price 21s.

Hints to Travellers : Scientific and General. Edited for the Council of the Royal Geographical Society. By John Coles, F.R.G.S., F.E.A.S. Eighth Edition. London : The Royal Geographical Society, 1901. 2 vols.' Price 15s. net.

The Indian Borderland, 1880–1900. By Colonel Sir T. Hungerford Holdich, K.C.I.E., etc. With twenty‐two illustrations and a map. London: Methuen and Co., 1901. Pp. xii + 402. Price 15s. net.

Un Séjour dan l'Ile de Ceylan. Per Jules Leclercq. Paris : Plon‐Nourrit et Cie., 1900. Pp. xii + 293.

The Statesman's Year‐Book Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1901. Edited by J. Scott Keltie, LL.D., with the assistance of I. P. A. Eenwick, M.A., LL.B. Thirty‐eighth Annual Publication. London : Macmillan and Co., 1901. Pp. 1320. Price 10s. 6d.

The Civilisation of the East. By Dr. Fritz Hommel. (“The Temple Primers.”) London: J. M. Dent and Co., 1900. Pp. xii + 140.

Ethnology. By Dr. Michael Hoberlandt. Translated by J. H. Loewe. (“The Temple Primers.”) London : J. M. Dent and Co., 1900. Pp. viii + 169.

Chinese Pictures. Notes on Photographs made in China. By Mrs. J. F. Bishop, F.R.G.S. London : Cassell and Co. Price 3s. 6d.

A History of Egypt in the Middle Ages. By Stanley Lane‐Poole. London : Methuen and Co., 1901. Pp. 382. Price 6s.

The Story of the War in South Africa, 1899–1900. By Captain A. T. Mahan, U.S.N. With Map and Portrait of the Author. London : Sampson Low, Marston, and Company, 1900. Pp. vi + 322, including Index. Price 10s. 6d.     

Troublesome Empire: Great Britain's American Dimension, 1600–1777

ROBERT M. BLISS. Revolution and Empire: English Politics and the American Colonies in the Seventeenth Century. Manchester: Manchester University Press; dist New York: Columbia University Press, 1990. Pp. xi, 300.

JOHN MORGAN DEDERER. War in America to 1775: Before Yankee Doodle. New York and London: New York University Press; dist. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990. Pp. xvii, 323.

MAX M. MINTZ. The Generals of Saratoga: John Burgoyne and Horatio Gates. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1990. Pp. ix, 278.

PAUL DAVID NELSON. William Tryon and the Course of Empire: A Life in British Imperial Service. Chapel Hill and London: University of North Carolina Press, 1990. Pp. xiii, 250.

DAVID S. SHIELDS. Oracles of Empire: Poetry, Politics, and Commerce in British America 1690–1750. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 1990. Pp. xiv, 295.     

The eponymous legacy of Sir William Richard Gowers (1845–1915): A revealing letter

The eponymous legacy of Sir William Richard Gowers (1845–1915) was the subject of a comprehensive appraisal first written for this journal late last year. Since the completion of that work, a revealing February 1903 letter has come to light recording, amongst other things, Gowers’ firsthand and somewhat private opinions concerning some of his own eponymous contributions to medicine. This addendum to the primary author’s original article will review and contextualize this very interesting find as it relates to Gowers’ eponymous legacy. Gowers’ “ataxic paraplegia” (referred to as “Gowers’ disease” in the letter) and “syringal hemorrhage” are specially considered, and his broader neological contributions are also briefly addressed. For completion, a number of other previously unnoticed eponyms are added to the already impressive list of medical entities named in Gowers’ honor, and a more complete collection of eponyms found in Gowers’ Manual are tabulated for consideration.