Theory and practice of the balance of power, 1486-1914: selected European writings

192 Pages·1975·10.359 MB·English

by  Moorhead Wright

Theory and Practice
of the
Balance of Power
1486-1914
Edited by Moorhead Wright
Rowman and Littlefield University Library
Books in this series, available in paperback
and hardback
HISTORY/POLITICS a
Politics and Literature in the Eighteenth
Century
Edited by H. T. Dickinson
Autobiography of Richard Baxter
Edited by N. H. Keeble
The Precursors of Adam Smith
Edited by Ronald L. Meek
(Hardback only)
Capital Accumulation in the Industrial
Revolution
Edited by B. L. Anderson
(Hardback only)
On the Constitution of the Church and State:
S. T. Coleridge
Edited by John Barrell
The Social Contract and Discourses:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Introduction and translation by G. D. H. Cole
Revised and edited by J. H. Brumfitt and John C. Hall
Utilitarianism, On Liberty and Considerations
on Representative Government: J. S. Mill
Edited by H. B. Acton
LITERATURE
Anglo-Saxon Prose
Edited by Michael Swanton
[continued on back flap

Theory and Practice
of the
Balance of Power
1486-1914
SELECTED EUROPEAN WRITINGS
Edited by Moorhead Wright
Department of International Politics
University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
Dent, London
Rowman and Littlefield, Totowa, NJ.
FRANKLY PtERCE
COLLEGE '''.Y
RINDGE. i: -S1
©J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, 1975
All rights reserved
Made in Great Britain
at the
Aldine Press • Letchworth ■ Herts
for
J. M. DENT & SONS LTD
Aldine House • 26 Albemarle Street ■ London
First published 1975
First published in the United States 1975
by ROWMAN AND LITTLEFIELD, Totowa, N.J.
This book if bound as a paperback
is subject to the condition that it
may not be issued on loan or otherwise
except in its original binding
Dent edition
ISBN o 460 10196 x
Rowman and Littlefield edition
ISBN 0-87471-407-9
Contents
Preface vii
Acknowledgments viii
Introduction ix
Select Bibliography xxiii
Chronology xxvii
PAGE
THE ITALIAN ORIGINS
Lorenzo de’ Medici. Two letters on Florentine diplomacy
(extract) I
Francesco Guicciardini. The History of Italy (extract) 7
Alberico Gentili. De lure Belli Libri Très (extract) 12
Paolo Paruta. Political Discourses (extract) 15
Giovanni Botero. ‘Of the Counterpoise of Princes’ Forces* xg
THE EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
Anonymous. ‘Whether it be Expedient to Make Peace with
England ’ (extract) 24
Francis Bacon. ‘Notes for a Speech Concerning a War with
Spain’ 27
Philippe de Béthune. ‘Of Treaties of Neutrality’ 32
Henri de Rohan. A Treatise of the Interest of the Princes and States
of Christendome (extract) 35
THE AGE OF LOUIS XIV
François de Salignac de la Mothe Fénelon. ‘On the Necessity
of Alliances ’ 39
Daniel Defoe. A Review of the State of the English Nation, 1 June,
1706 (extract) 45
The Duke of Berry. Renunciation of the Spanish Crown 50
Viscount Bolingbroke. Letters on the Study and Use of History
(extract) 51
v
vi Contents
PAGE.
THE MID-EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
David Hume. ‘Of the Balance of Power’ 59
Antoine Pecquet. ‘Opinions of the Balance of Power’ 66
Emmerich de Vattel. The Law of Nations (extract) 71
Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Project for Perpetual Peace (extract) 74
Comte de Vergennes. Memoir at the Beginning of the Reign
of Louis XVI 81
THE NAPOLEONIC WARS AND THEIR AFTERMATH
Johann Gottlieb Fichte. The Characteristics of the Present Age
(extract) 87
Friedrich von Gentz. ‘The True Concept of a Balance of
Power’ (extract) 94
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand. Letter to Metternich, 19th
December 1814 98
Carl von Clausewitz. On War (extract) 104
Richard Cobden. ‘The Balance of Power’ (extract) 108
THE ARMED PEACE
Henry Reeve. ‘Balance of Power’ (extract) 117
Sir Edward Grey. A speech to the Committee of Imperial
Defence, 26th May 1911 (extract) 123
Lewis Einstein. ‘The United States and Anglo-German
Rivalry’ (extract) 128
Winston Churchill. The World Crisis (extract) 134
Statistical Chart of Europe (1804) 139
Index 145