Britain and the Origins of the New Europe 1914-1918In 1914 the British government was not interested in national self-determination in eastern Europe, but by November 1918 it was deeply involved with various eastern European subject nationalities and was committed by implication to their independence. This book attempts to explain this evolution in British policy in the case of the Poles, Czechoslovaks and Yugoslavs, the three most important subject nationalities in eastern Europe. The book is based primarily on the official records of the British government, which have been supplemented with material from private collections. Dr Calder argues that British policy on national self-determination developed not as a result of theoretical speculations but of the wartime relations between the government and the Polish, Czechoslovak and Yugoslav national organizations. This book traces the evolution in British relations with the Polish, Czechoslovak and Yugoslav nationality organizations from August 1914 to November 1918. It shows how the initial contacts were established and how relations developed gradually as the government sought to use these organisations in propaganda, espionage and the formation of military units. It attempts to assess the effects of this co-operation on the attitudes of British officials and the policy of the government. |
Contents
The initial contact | 12 |
Yugoslavia in the Balkan | 29 |
Espionage and propaganda 191416 | 49 |
War aims 1916 | 83 |
Britain and AustriaHungary 191718 | 108 |
The recognition of the Polish | 145 |
Commitment by implication 1918 | 175 |
Conclusion | 214 |
Bibliography | 252 |
Other editions - View all
Britain and the Origins of the New Europe 1914-1918 Kenneth J. Calder,Kenneth J.. Calder No preview available - 1976 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted action agreed aims Allied American appeared army assistance attempt August Austria-Hungary Austrian authority Balfour Balkan began Beneš Britain British government Buchanan cabinet cause Cecil Central powers claims Clerk co-operation commitments Committee consideration considered continued Council created Czechoslovak Czechs desire developed discussed Dmowski Drummond eastern Europe effect émigrés enemy Entente established evidence existed foreign office French future German give Grey Hardinge House idea important independence influence interests internal involved issue Italian Italy July June Lloyd George London March memo ment military minute Namier national self-determination negotiations never Nicolson opinion organization Poland Poles Polish Polish National political position possible problem propaganda proposal question reason recognition recognized reference relations representatives result Russian seemed separate peace Sept Serbian Seton-Watson showed Slav South Spring Rice statement Steed suggested territorial tion United views wrote Yugoslav