THE STATESMAN'S YEAR-BOOK STATISTICAL AND HISTORICAL ANNUAL OF THE STATES OF THE WORLD FOR THE YEAR 1906 EDITED BY J. SCOTT KELTIE, LL.D. SECRETARY TO THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY HONORARY CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETIES OF PARIS, BERLIN, PHILADELPHIA, AND OF THE COMMERCIAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF PARIS Man sagt oft: Zahlen regieren die Welt. Das aber ist gewiss, Zahlen zeigen wie sie regiert wird, GOETHE. PREFACE IMPORTANT changes have been made in the new issue of the YEARBook, involving an addition of about 150 pages. In compliance with influential suggestions from America, separate notices have been introduced of the States comprised in the American Union, on the same lines, as far as practicable, as the section dealing with the United States as a whole. In view of the fact that these States are, in the main, quite as important as the separate States of the German Confederation, this step will be regarded as justifiable. In view of this important modification and for other reasons, a re-arrangement of the contents has been introduced, under which, in the British edition, the British Empire comes first, the United States second, and other countries third. In the American edition the United States will have the first place. We desire to convey our warmest thanks to the Governors and Secretaries of many of the States of the Union who have responded generously to our request for information on the various matters dealt with, as also to those who have helped us effectively with the other States. We recognise that, in this first attempt to deal with so important an addition to the YEAR-BOOK, there must necessarily be defects; but we are confident that in future, the co-operation of the officers of all the States will be as liberal as has been so long the case with the various departments of the Central Government. In other sections of the YEAR-BOOK the important events of the past year have necessitated many modifications. The results of the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway, the conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War, the upheaval in Russia, the mission to Tibet, the ecclesiastical changes in France, the recent election in the United Kingdom, and other important events have all been duly incorporated. For revision of the section devoted to religion in France we are indebted to Mr. J. E. C. Bodley. The developments and modifications of the Colonial Empires of Great Britain, France, Germany, and the United States have been noted, while throughout important changes and additions have been effected, all, it is hoped, in the way of improvement. Under the supervision of Mr. Fred T. Jane, the Navy Sections |