Derecho territorial ecuatoriano

This new publication on Ecuador’s border problem was originally presented as a doctoral dissertation in law at the University of Guayaquil by one of its well known history professors. Nevertheless, the book does not contain any new addition to our knowledge of the subject. It is largely a heaping together of a great amount of loose historical data, some of it quite erroneous, and none of it based on archival research. For example’s sake, it is surprising to see Humboldt invoked as “autoridad indiscutible” on Ecuadorian prehistory (p. 48). Of bad taste are the author’s repeated manifestations of political opportunism. However, the book can prove itself useful concerning the colonial antecedents of the border dispute, since most authors dedicated but little space to these. It also contains an excellent bibliography, though Dr. Silva feels compelled to give excuses (p. XVI): “no ha sido vanidoso prurito del autor el trazar una bibliografía extensa….”