It is becoming increasingly evident that the existence together, in a diminishing world, of rich nations and very poor nations, is the critical problem of our time; and indeed other questions of international relations are rapidly taking on the appearance of being merely aspects of this central crux. According to some authorities it may only be a matter of a few years before the food and population question takes on such alarming proportions as to make our present troubles on the international scene seem slight by comparison. It is only against this background that we can fully appreciate the significance of the United Nations institutions and procedures for the mediation of aid, whether financial or technical, to developing coun tries; and indeed also for the flow of credit and skills between countries generally, for few nations or none belong wholly to one side in this matter, and the whole question is one that vitally affects the immediate futures of every one of the members of the international community.
This calendar, with illustrations, is a reference service focusing on multilateral treaties concluded by more than two parties. It covers a period of almost 350 years of multilateral diplomacy, from the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 to the end of 1995. It lists chronologically all multilateral treaties concluded during that period, provides information on the location of their printed text in various collections (with parallel citations), adds data on duration, depository arrangements, & status, & provides extensive notes on their amendment, modification, extension, termination, & other details (with related references). It ends with appendices & a detailed index.