In the preface to the first edition of his book, Bello states that he found guidance in the works of the eighteenth-century publicists and in Chitty's A Treatise on the Laws of Commerce and Manufactures and the Contracts Relating Thereto, 1824; Elliot's The American Diplomatic Code; and Kent's Commentaries on American Law, 1829. To these sources may be traced the important influence of Anglo-Saxon viewpoints noticeable in Bello's work, since the first named was English and the other two were American.

In the discussion of the foundations and origins of international law, Bello sided with those who contend that international law is nothing more than natural law, that mankind is a great community of nations in which each has the same duties in regard to the others that human beings have toward their fellow men.

The doctrines of Bello on the right of the former Spanish colonies to form independent States, severing the ties that bound them to the mother country, exerted a positive influence on the destiny of the new Republics. He preached that the independence of those countries was an accomplished fact which other nations were obliged to recognize, and that it was their duty in the struggle between the mother country and its former colonies to remain neutral and to act accordingly.

In the American Continent Bello awakened a deep and wide interest in the study of international law. His influence has inspired those writers of this continent who have undertaken researches in that field and contributed with important works to the formation of international law as it is understood to-day.

The great Argentine jurist Calvo said of Bello's achievements: "He was the first to point out the inadequacy of the principles laid down in Vattel's work, and to attempt to correct those defects. He may be considered the forerunner of Wheaton, who quotes him frequently. The most distinguished authors speak of Bello's work with praise." The great merits of Bello's treatise are further evinced by the fact that it was translated into French and German and that it is quoted by eminent European writers.

The reputation as a jurist established by Bello mainly through his Principios de Derecho de Jentes-keeping step with the development of science, in later editions the author changed the title to Principios de Derecho Internacional-was increased by the ability he displayed in orienting Chile's foreign policy. His prestige was such that in 1864 the Governments of the United States and Ecuador asked him to arbitrate a controversy that had arisen between them. A similar

request was made of him during the following year by the Governments. of Colombia and Peru. Advancing age and failing health compelled Bello to decline these highly complimentary requests, which were, we believe, the first of that nature to be made of a Latin American.

A profound influence was exerted by the work the centennial of whose publication we seek herein to commemorate. It has served as a textbook in almost all the universities of the American Continent, and the doctrines it sets forth have been quoted, as coming from the highest authority, in all the international disputes that have arisen in the New World.

SAO VICENTE, THE SMALL BEGINNING OF

ON

A GREAT NATION

By SPENCER VAMPRÉ

Professor of Law, University of Sao Paulo

N the 22d of January, 1932, various ceremonies held throughout Brazil commemorated the four-hundredth anniversary of the founding of Sao Vicente, the oldest city in the southern part of the country and the place where Portuguese colonization began. Sao Vicente, which is situated on the seacoast of the State of Sao Paulo and has to-day about 8,000 inhabitants, was founded by Martim Affonso de Souza, whose colony gave Brazil its first church and its first customhouse.

The road of colonization is never smooth, and the case of Brazil was no exception. The Portuguese had not only the Indians to contend with but also their fellow Europeans: France, Spain, and Portugal were waging a mightly battle for empire in the Orient and in the New World. After Brazil was discovered in 1500 by the Portuguese navigator Alvares Cabral, not many years elapsed before the struggle for the riches of the country began. French ship owners were interested in Brazil wood, which was then used extensively as a dye. In 1503 they sent the ship Espoir to Brazil. It is also known that in 1511 a Portuguese ship, the Bretôa, arrived in the country. Part owner of this vessel was Fernando de Noronha, who gave his name to one of the islands on the Brazilian coast.

As time went on and trade increased the French and the Portuguese became more hostile to each other. The French used to establish settlements in which they left agents to gather the products of the soil and hold these in readiness for the return of the ships. The agents, of course, made all possible efforts to win the friendship of the Indians and to form alliances with them, in order to turn them against the Portuguese. These, for their part, policed the Brazilian coast, did their best to sink every French vessel they sighted, and hanged from his own mast every captain they captured. Moreover, Portugal kept spies in France and Spain, in order to learn of any projected expeditions to Brazil.

To furnish an example of the kind of warfare then carried on, it may be related that in 1527 the Spaniard Cristóbal Jacques, who had been in the service of the King of Portugal 11 years, guarding the coast of Brazil, found at Sao Salvador de Bahia the crews of two

THE LANDING OF MARTIM AFFONSO DE SOUZA

This historical painting by the Brazilian artist Benedicto Calixto depicts the landing of the explorer in 1532 at the site of São Vicente, now a part of the port of Santos. Martim Affonso was met by two of his countrymen, Antonio Rodrigues and João Ramalho, who, after being shipwrecked on the Brazilian coast years before, had lived with the Indian tribes of the region. Ramalho is shown pointing the route to the highlands where the city of Piratininga, now São Paulo, was later established.

French ships engaged in loading Brazil wood. Attacking them by surprise, he sank the vessels, hanged some of the sailors, and buried others up to their shoulders, leaving their heads as a target for his marksmen. In 1531 Jean Dupérot, master of the ship La Pélerine, established a settlement at Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil. Some time afterward, Pero Lopes de Souza came down upon the settlement and destroyed it completely.

Martim Affonso de Souza, a brother of Pero, left Portugal at the end of 1530 and arrived at Pernambuco in January of 1531. From there he sent one of his lieutenants, Diogo Leite, to explore the northern coast with two caravels. He himself set sail for the south.

and made stops at Bahia, also called Sao Salvador; Rio de Janeiro, known as Guanabara; and Cananea, a port in the present State of Sao Paulo. Guided by the desire for silver, which was said to exist in great quantities in what afterwards came to be known as the Río de la Plata, or "River of Silver," he tried to go up that stream, but was shipwrecked and compelled to turn back. He arrived at Sao Vicente on the 22d of January, 1532, and on that date founded the city, set its limits, allotted the land among his men, and undertook the construction of all necessary buildings. He also convoked a council of "good men" for the purpose of electing the city authorities. De Souza was greatly aided in his undertaking by two of his