As now resuscitated, the Bill is accompanied by a memorandum containing
information which will enable the reader, even though no specialist,
supposing him to have the necessary documents at hand, though probably
only after several hours of labour, to ascertain what would be the
result of passing it. Is it too much to hope that similar aids to the
understanding of complicated legislative proposals will be
systematically provided in the future?

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
T. E. HOLLAND.
Oxford, April 13, 1914.

This Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on April 8,
1914, with a memorandum proposed in compliance with the
criticisms, which had led to the withdrawal of its predecessor
of 1911. _Cf. supra_, p. 37. It also was withdrawn, after
sustaining much renewed criticism, on July 17, 1914.

THE FOREIGN ENLISTMENT BILL

Sir,--It is doubtless the case, as stated in your leading article of
to-day, that the Foreign Enlistment Bill has not received the attention
which it deserves. It may perhaps be worth while to mention, as
affording some explanation of this neglect, the fact that the memorandum
prefixed to the Bill vaguely describes its main object as being to bring
our law into conformity with "The Hague Conventions" at large. An
ordinary member of Parliament would surely be grateful to be referred
specifically to Convention No. xiii., Arts. 8, 17, and 25. He might well
shrink from the labour of exploring the hundreds of articles contained
in "The Hague Conventions" in order to ascertain which of the articles
suggest some modification of the English statute.

I would also venture to suggest that, in Article 1 (1) (b) of the Bill
the words "or allows to depart," carried over from the old Act, should
be omitted, as of doubtful interpretation. Would it not also be
desirable to take this opportunity of severing the enlistment articles
of the overgrown principal Act from those forbidding the despatch of
ships fitted for hostilities and restricting the hospitality which may
be extended to belligerent war ships?

Upon quite a different subject, I should like to answer the question
propounded in your article, as to the weight now to be given to the
Declaration of London, by saying that no weight should be given to it,
except as between Powers who may have ratified it or may have agreed to
be temporarily bound by its provisions. One has of late been surprised
to read of vessels car