Comparative law

THIS series has been designed to fill certain gaps that are to be found in that part of English legal literature which is concerned with international relations. Three separate branches of the law are involved and we desire to say a few words about each of them. In the field of Public International Law there is a growing need, at a

time when the foundations of the new international order are being laid, for a fuller treatment of questions of International Law and Organisation than is possible within the limits of text-books devoted to the subject as a whole. It is hoped that the task of progressive codification of Inter national Law, which suffered a temporary set-back in the decade preceding the second world war, may be assisted by research and studies such as are contemplated in this series. We are, further, of opinion that it may, perhaps, be possible to give a generous interpretation to the phrase International Law' so as to permit of the inclusion in the series of volumes dealing with certain aspects of diplomacy and international relations in general

Private International Law, or the Conflict of Laws, is a subject which is of growing importance, both practically and academically, owing to the rapid development of means of transport and communication and to the increasing contact between the citizens and commercial organisations of different countries. Until recently it has, no doubt, been possible to deal adequately with this subject in a single volume, such as Dicey's magisterial treatise, in the same way as two hundred years ago it was feasible to write a book on the Law of England as a whole. But Private International Law has now reached a stage at which a certain measure of disintegration of its content has become necessary, because in no other way can proper provision be made for the needs of those, other than students, who are interested in the subject. Certain topics such as the law of contracts, marriage, jurisdiction and the like can, in our view, be dealt with more advantageously in a series of monographs than in a text book covering the whole of the area of conflicts of law and jurisdiction.

Comparative Law is an unfortunate but generally accepted label for the comparative method of legal study and research which has come to be recognised as the best means of promoting a community of thought and interests between the lawyers of different nations and as an invaluable auxiliary to the development and reform of our own and other systems of law. In particular, a very important part is played by Comparative Law in the movement for the unification of private law-a movement which seems destined to gain strength as the nations are increasingly brought into contact with one another and the world tends more and more to become an entity in an economic as opposed to a social or political sense. At present the literature of Comparative Law is scattered, fragmentary and often difficult of access. It is our hope that this series may hereafter be of some service in helping to provide materials for those desiring to avail themselves of the comparative method of legal study or research.