Britain, the US and the War Debt Problem, 1917-34 An Unspecial Relationship (British Politics and Society)

This volume throws important new light upon a pivotal period of transition in the Anglo-American relationship and sets the stage for its equally dramatic transformation during and after the Second World War. Based upon extensive research in previously unpublished archival material on both sides of the Atlantic, for the first time this book offers a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the war debt problem from its origins at the end of the First World War until its final removal with the launch of Roosevelt's Lend-Lease programme in 1940-41. This work will be of great interest to diplomats and journalists, as well as to students and scholars of political, diplomatic, economic and international history.

Even at its peak, during the Second World War, the so-called "Special Relationship" between Britain and the United States meant rather different things to the two great English-speaking powers involved. Few issues more ably demonstrate the complex nature of this ambivalent relationship, between the wars, than the vexed question of British and Allied war debts to the United States after World War I. Robert Self focuses on this beguiling - and until now much neglected - period in Anglo-American relations.

The war debt was a particularly sensitive area of discussion in a world beset by economic difficulty, and militarizing again in preparation for the next great outbreak of violence. Sentimental notions of shared cultural and democratic values were tempered by a growing awareness of conflicting commercial, economic, strategic, naval and diplomatic imperatives.

Based upon extensive, previously unpublished archival research on both sides of the Atlantic, in official and private collections of papers, for the first time this book offers a detailed, comprehensive analysis of the origins of the war debt problem from the 1920s through to Roosevelt's Lend-Lease programme in 1940-41.

This new volume fills in the details of this crucial period of transition, and sets the stage for the events that occurred during the second war and beyond. It will be of great interest for diplomats, journalists, as well as students and scholars of political, diplomatic, economic and international history.

Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series-Title......Page 3 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Dedication......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 11 1 Britain, America and the ambivalence of the 'special relationship'......Page 12 2 Origins of the inter-Allied war debt problem......Page 26 3 Britain and the inter-Allied war debt settlements......Page 45 4 Economic depression and revival of the debt question......Page 71 5 The British 'bombshell' : July-November 1932......Page 101 6 'To pay or not to pay, that is the question' : December 1932......Page 123 7 The presidential interregnum: December 1932-March 1933......Page 144 8 Counting on Roosevelt: March-July 1933......Page 172 9 Drifting towards default: August 1933-June 1934......Page 189 10 Epilogue: 1934- 1941......Page 207 Appendices......Page 226 Notes and references......Page 231 A guide to archival sources......Page 262 Index......Page 267 "This volume throws new light upon a pivotal period of transition in the Anglo-American relationship and sets the stage for its equally dramatic transformation during and after the Second World War. As such, this work will be of great interest to diplomats and journalists, as well as to students and scholars of political, diplomatic, economic and international history."--Jacket