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Despatches from the Belgian diplomatists in Paris, London and Berlin are divided into Parts—each Partcovering a specific year, or years. Each Part is preceded by a summary of the principal matters dealt with in the Despatches. This is followed by a Chronology of the chief events of the year, or years, treated in the Part. The object of the Chronology is to provide a kind of textbook to the Despatches, and to assist in a more comprehensive survey of international events than is possible from a perusal of the Despatches themselves. It will be observed that the Chronology often records events of which the writers of the Despatches were necessarily ignorant.

The Despatches are copiously annotated by explanatory Notes, in order to facilitate an intelligent perusal of the Despatches in the light of precedent, contemporary and subsequent events. To avoid giving the reader unnecessary trouble, the Notes are published together at the end of each Part; and there are cross-references when the same subject crops, up again, as is frequently the case in the Despatches.

As here presented, the Despatches, the Chronologies and the Explanatory Foot-Notes form a fairly complete chapter of the most important events and tendencies in the diplomatic history of Europe from 1905 until the outbreak of war.