The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 43, July 1939 - April, 1940 Page: 549

Book Reviews

these have been stumbled upon rather than revealed by a search-
ing analysis.
The book's good points are many. The style is arresting, though
at times journalistic. The criticisms leveled at the Mexican ex-
periment are valid, though there is a disquieting tone of parti-
sanship. Frequently the factual material is authentic and reliable.
This is a book which can be read with profit by anyone wanting
to know more about the Cardenas period and its place in Mexico's
third great revolution.
JoE W. NEAL.
The University of Texas.
France and Latin-American Independence. By William Spence
Robertson. (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1939.
Pp. xv, 626. Bibliography, maps. $3.75.)
This latest contribution to Latin-American history, by an emi-
nent authority in that field, fills admirably a very definite need.
Professor Robertson has taken for his object in this book the
delineation of the policy of France toward the embryo nations of
the New World from the time Napoleon invaded the Iberian
Peninsula. In this connection he has found it desirable to touch,
at times, on the attitude of Spain, Portugal, England, Russia,
and the United States toward the rebellious Spanish colonies of
America. In portraying French policy the author has felt it per-
tinent to give some attention to unofficial French sentiment toward
Latin-American independence and to commercial relations between
France and the Latin nations of the Western Hemisphere.
During the process of his investigations for this study Professor
Robertson has had access to the principal libraries and archives
of France, Spain, England, Russia, Austria, and the United States,
and has depended largely on records found therein but has not
neglected previous studies made on various phases of his problem.
As Professor Robertson shows, French policy toward Latin-
America veered greatly according to conditions in France and the
relations between that country and Spain. Napoleon uninten-
tionally became the "liberator" of Spanish America by his usurpa-
tion' of the Spanish throne for his brother Joseph. When it became
evident that he would not be able to bring the Spanish colonies
under his control, Napoleon came out as the champion of their inde-

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