The European Unity League - Ulrich Tiedau

This book uncovers a largely forgotten early vision of European unity that emerged in Britain before the First World War. By tracing the remarkable career of Sir Max Waechter (1837–1924), entrepreneur, philanthropist and the British representative of the Nobel brothers’ Caspian oil interests, it reveals how British actors were among the earliest in arguing that Europe’s growing rivalries could be addressed through closer economic cooperation and political understanding. The study shows that ideas of a federated Europe were already being energetically developed, debated and promoted before 1914.Central to the book is Waechter’s creation of the European Unity League, whose ambitious programme provides a fresh lens to reassess the intellectual and political climate of the pre-war years. Drawing on extensive archival research, the volume reconstructs Waechter’s 1906 manifesto to King Edward VII, his extraordinary diplomatic tour across the continent aboard the former Austrian archducal yacht Rovenska and his ability to secure audiences with most reigning heads of state, despite opposition from the Foreign Office. It follows how these efforts led to the 1909 Inaugural Congress of the European Federation in Rome, co-organized with the Italian pacifist Prince di Cassano (1855–1926), and the formal establishment of the League in London in 1913.Although the outbreak of war curtailed its activities, the League stands as one of the earliest mass movements for European unity,
více informací