beyond the powers of competent diplomatists." No such belief is
expressed in my letter of December 16, in which I was careful to admit
that the question, "whether it is now too late to attempt" the reform
which appears to me to be desirable is one "which can be answered only
by the diplomatists."

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
T. E. HOLLAND.
Oxford, January 5 (1920).

* * * * *

SECTION 2

_Pacific Reprisals_

The four letters next following were suggested by the ambiguous
character of the blockades instituted by France against Siam in
1893, by the Great Powers against Crete in 1897, and by Great
Britain, Germany, and Italy, against Venezuela in 1902. The
object, in each case, was to explain the true nature of the
species of reprisals known as "Pacific Blockade," and to point
out the difference between the consequences of such a measure
and those which result from a "Belligerent Blockade." A fifth
letter, written with reference to the action of the Netherlands
against Venezuela in 1908, emphasises the desirability of more
clearly distinguishing between war and reprisals. On the
various applications of a blockade in time of peace, see the
author's _Studies in International Law_, pp. 130-150.