Poland, the United States, and the Stabilization of Europe, 1919-1933

by Neal Pease

Overview

In the eyes of the world, no European country appeared more vulnerable to its enemies or less likely to establish peace with them than inter-war Poland. This is the first full-length study of relations between Poland and the U.S. following World War I, as Poland turned to America to buttress its precarious position. Pease lucidly examines how Polish leaders of the 1920s, discerning America's essential aim of fostering stability in Europe, sought to enlist U.S. political and financial support on behalf of their beleaguered state. Drawing on exhaustive archival research, Pease unravels the fascinating ties between these unlikely diplomatic partners. He reveals how Poland not only had to fight an uphill battle against inter-war America's isolationism, but also had to counter America's reluctance to underwrite a nation surrounded by two strong and hostile neighbors, Germany and the Soviet Union. Poland's plea for political and financial backing was ultimately denied by both the White House and Wall Street with dire consequences for Poland's future and Europe's fragile peace. Authoritative and original, this book is valuable contribution to our understanding of America and Europe during the interwar years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195040500
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/27/1986
Pages:	246
Product dimensions:	6.31(w) x 9.56(h) x 0.98(d)

About the Author

University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee

Editorial Reviews

"A comprehensive treatment of American-Polish relations for the period....Pease's familiarity with the Polish language and archives is exemplary. He also writes very well."—The Historian

"An extremely valuable contribution to modern historiography. It completes the picture of American stabilization policy after the First World War, and it also provides a new and comprehensive account of American-Polish relations under two Republican administrations....Based on very rich sources from American, British, and Polish archives."—Business History Review

"There are many things to be learned, or relearned, from Pease's narrative....Pease's distinctive contribution here is his astute description of interwar central bank diplomacy."—Journal of Modern History

"A fascinating monograph....Depicting the perspectives of both Americans and Poles, Pease deftly captures the meaning and the flavour of their often frustrating relationship. The book is superbly researched, grounded in the archives of Poland and the United States; the author has also consulted British, German, and French sources as well as the published literature."—International History Review

"Pease has provided a well-crafted book that fills a major gap in scholarly literature....This well-written book should remain the definitive word on the subject for the foreseeable future."—Journal of American History

"Sterling...based on extensive archival research and...contains a masterly exposition of how U.S. bankers and government officials saw Poland, and how Polish government and financial circles viewed the United States in the years 1919-1933."—The Polish Review

"A classic of the genre which provides invaluable insights into the policy-making process of both countries."—Polish American Studies

"An original and valuable history that contributes greatly to the understanding of America and Europe during the interwar years. This is a fine piece of scholarship."—Springfield Newspapers

From the Publisher