Arthur Bliss Lane: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
BG19bot (talk | contribs)
1,005,055 edits
m WP:CHECKWIKI error fix for #61. Punctuation goes before References. Do general fixes if a problem exists. - using AWB (10497)
small stuff
Line 31: Line 31:
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Arthur Bliss Lane''' (16 June 1894 – 12 August 1956) was a career diplomat for the [[United States]], serving in Latin America and Europe. During his diplomatic career he dealt with the rise of a dictatorship in [[Nicaragua]] in the 1930s, [[World War II]] and its aftermath in Europe, and the rise of the USSR-backed communist government in Poland.
'''Arthur Bliss Lane''' (16 June 1894 – 12 August 1956) was a [[United States]] diplomat who served in Latin America and Europe. During his diplomatic career he dealt with the rise of a dictatorship in [[Nicaragua]] in the 1930s, [[World War II]] and its aftermath in Europe, and the rise of the USSR-backed communist government in Poland.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==


Lane was born in Bay Ridge, [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]] on June 16, 1894. He attended Yale University. After graduating in 1916, he became private secretary to the U.S. Ambassador to Italy in Rome. In 1919-1920 he was 2nd secretary in the U.S. embassy to Poland. In 1921-1922, he was 2nd secretary in London, UK. During this time he was secretary to the U.S. delegation to the [[Conference of Ambassadors]] in Paris in 1921. He then went to Berne, Switzerland in 1922. From 1923 to 1925 he worked at the [[U.S. State Department]] in Washington, D.C. Lane then worked in the embassy in [[Mexico]] from 1925-1933.
Lane was born in Bay Ridge, [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]] on June 16, 1894 and attended Yale University. After graduating in 1916, he became private secretary to the U.S. Ambassador to Italy in Rome. In 1919-1920 he was 2nd secretary in the U.S. embassy to Poland. In 1921-1922, he was 2nd secretary in London. During this time he was secretary to the U.S. delegation to the 1921 [[Conference of Ambassadors]] in Paris. He then went to Berne, Switzerland in 1922. From 1923 to 1925 he worked at the [[U.S. State Department]] in Washington, D.C. Lane then worked in the embassy in [[Mexico]] from 1925-1933.


He was appointed U.S. Minister to [[Nicaragua]] (1933–1936). While serving there he met with General [[Anastasio Somoza García|Somoza]] while the President of Nicaragua Sacasa held discussions with rebel leader [[Augusto César Sandino]]. Sandino called for the National Guard run by Somoza to be disbanded as it had been set up by the U.S. as they withdrew Marine forces from Nicaragua. Sandino was murdered by Guardsmen after the meetings; the U.S. claims that Lane had counseled Somoza to be patient but Somoza and later, the [[Sandinistas]], claimed that Lane gave Somoza permission for his actions. Lane spent the next two years trying to reconcile Somoza and Sacasa, leaving the country before the next election as the U.S. adopted more non-interventionist policy.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=DAuGAfXoSeUC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=lane+sandino+murder&source=bl&ots=AVUXpgBVX4&sig=uq7A-ZvIxVo6Oc-28UvPwi8dUeM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ud8OUdGWGeLfyAHsvoGoCw&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=lane%20sandino%20murder&f=false Presidents, Diplomats, and Other Mortals: Essays Honoring Robert H. Ferrell], edited J. Garry Clifford and Theodore A. Wilson, University of Missouri Press, 2007, p 75-76</ref>
He was appointed U.S. Minister to [[Nicaragua]] (1933–1936). While serving there he met with General [[Anastasio Somoza García|Somoza]] while the President of Nicaragua Sacasa held talks with rebel leader [[Augusto César Sandino]]. Sandino called for the National Guard run by Somoza to be disbanded, as it had been founded by the U.S. as they withdrew their Marines from the country. Sandino was murdered by Guardsmen after the talks. The U.S. claimed that Lane had counseled Somoza to be patient, but Somoza (and later the [[Sandinistas]]) claimed that Lane gave Somoza permission for the assasination. Lane spent the next two years trying to reconcile Somoza and Sacasa, leaving the country before the next election as the U.S. adopted a more non-interventionist policy.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=DAuGAfXoSeUC&pg=PA75&lpg=PA75&dq=lane+sandino+murder&source=bl&ots=AVUXpgBVX4&sig=uq7A-ZvIxVo6Oc-28UvPwi8dUeM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ud8OUdGWGeLfyAHsvoGoCw&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=lane%20sandino%20murder&f=false Presidents, Diplomats, and Other Mortals: Essays Honoring Robert H. Ferrell], edited J. Garry Clifford and Theodore A. Wilson, University of Missouri Press, 2007, p 75-76</ref>
He was next U.S. minister to [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], and [[Lithuania]] (1936–1937); [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]], (1937–1941) (until the German invasion); and [[Costa Rica]] (1941–1942). He was then appointed [[Ambassadors from the United States|United States Ambassador]] to [[Colombia]] (1942–1944), and subsequently to Poland from 1944 to 1947, first to the Polish government in exile in London and later in Warsaw after the war.
He was next U.S. minister to [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], and [[Lithuania]] from 1936 to 1937; the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] (from 1937 to 1941, until the German invasion); and [[Costa Rica]] in 1941–1942. He was then appointed [[Ambassadors from the United States|Ambassador]] to [[Colombia]] (1942–1944), and subsequently to Poland from 1944 to 1947, first to the Polish government in exile in London and later in Warsaw to the post-war government.
[[File:Lane in Warsaw.jpg|thumb|Lane in Warsaw after World War II]]
[[File:Lane in Warsaw.jpg|thumb|Lane in Warsaw after World War II]]
While in Poland, Lane resigned his post on February 24, 1947, in protest of the takeover of the country by the Communist puppet regime,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/lane-arthur-bliss|title = Poland |format = List of Ambassadors to Poland |publisher = [[United States Department of State]] |year = 2004 |accessdate = 2007-08-24}}</ref> and wrote a book detailing what he considered to be the failure of the United States and Britain to keep their promise that the Poles would have a free election after the war. In that book he described what he considered the [[Western betrayal|betrayal of Poland]] by the Western Allies, hence the title, ''[[I Saw Poland Betrayed]]''. The book was translated into Polish and published in the United States, and later disseminated by an underground [[samizdat]] publishing house in Poland in the 1980s.
While in Poland, Lane resigned his post on February 24, 1947, in protest of the takeover of the country by the Communist puppet regime,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/lane-arthur-bliss|title = Poland |format = List of Ambassadors to Poland |publisher = [[United States Department of State]] |year = 2004 |accessdate = 2007-08-24}}</ref> and wrote a book detailing what he considered to be the failure of the United States and Britain to keep their promise that the Poles would have a free election after the war. In that book he described what he considered the [[Western betrayal|betrayal of Poland]] by the Western Allies, hence the title, ''[[I Saw Poland Betrayed]]''. The book was translated into Polish and published in the United States, and later disseminated by an underground [[samizdat]] publishing house in Poland in the 1980s.


According to Lane, the U.S. and Britain at the [[Tehran Conference]] agreed to the dismemberment of eastern Poland. He considered this act a treacherous breach of the [[United States Constitution]], since [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] never reported his decision to the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. The [[Yalta Conference]] was the final death blow to Poland's hopes for independence and for a democratic form of government, said Lane.
According to Lane, the U.S. and Britain at the [[Tehran Conference]] agreed to the dismemberment of eastern Poland. He considered this act a treacherous breach of the [[United States Constitution]], since [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] never reported his decision to the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. The [[Yalta Conference]] was the final death blow to Poland's hopes for independence and for a democratic form of government, according to Lane.


Following his career at the State Department, Lane was active in investigating the [[Katyn Massacre]] and also active in several anti-Communist organizations, such as the National Committee for a Free Europe. He would also later campaign for Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election, in opposition to his former boss, Democrat Harry Truman.
Following his career at the State Department, Lane was active in investigating the [[Katyn Massacre]] and also active in several anti-Communist organizations, such as the National Committee for a Free Europe. He would also later campaign for Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election, in opposition to his former boss, Democrat Harry Truman.

Revision as of 15:42, 9 January 2015

For other people named Arthur Lane, see Arthur Lane (disambiguation).
Arthur Bliss Lane
United States Ambassador
to Poland
In office
4 August 1945 – 24 February 1947
PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded byAnthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr.
Succeeded byStanton Griffis
Personal details
Born(1894-06-16)June 16, 1894
Brooklyn, New York
DiedAugust 12, 1956(1956-08-12) (aged 62)
NationalityAmerican

Arthur Bliss Lane (16 June 1894 – 12 August 1956) was a United States diplomat who served in Latin America and Europe. During his diplomatic career he dealt with the rise of a dictatorship in Nicaragua in the 1930s, World War II and its aftermath in Europe, and the rise of the USSR-backed communist government in Poland.

Biography

Lane was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York on June 16, 1894 and attended Yale University. After graduating in 1916, he became private secretary to the U.S. Ambassador to Italy in Rome. In 1919-1920 he was 2nd secretary in the U.S. embassy to Poland. In 1921-1922, he was 2nd secretary in London. During this time he was secretary to the U.S. delegation to the 1921 Conference of Ambassadors in Paris. He then went to Berne, Switzerland in 1922. From 1923 to 1925 he worked at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. Lane then worked in the embassy in Mexico from 1925-1933.

He was appointed U.S. Minister to Nicaragua (1933–1936). While serving there he met with General Somoza while the President of Nicaragua Sacasa held talks with rebel leader Augusto César Sandino. Sandino called for the National Guard run by Somoza to be disbanded, as it had been founded by the U.S. as they withdrew their Marines from the country. Sandino was murdered by Guardsmen after the talks. The U.S. claimed that Lane had counseled Somoza to be patient, but Somoza (and later the Sandinistas) claimed that Lane gave Somoza permission for the assasination. Lane spent the next two years trying to reconcile Somoza and Sacasa, leaving the country before the next election as the U.S. adopted a more non-interventionist policy.[1]

He was next U.S. minister to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from 1936 to 1937; the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (from 1937 to 1941, until the German invasion); and Costa Rica in 1941–1942. He was then appointed Ambassador to Colombia (1942–1944), and subsequently to Poland from 1944 to 1947, first to the Polish government in exile in London and later in Warsaw to the post-war government.

Lane in Warsaw after World War II

While in Poland, Lane resigned his post on February 24, 1947, in protest of the takeover of the country by the Communist puppet regime,[2] and wrote a book detailing what he considered to be the failure of the United States and Britain to keep their promise that the Poles would have a free election after the war. In that book he described what he considered the betrayal of Poland by the Western Allies, hence the title, I Saw Poland Betrayed. The book was translated into Polish and published in the United States, and later disseminated by an underground samizdat publishing house in Poland in the 1980s.

According to Lane, the U.S. and Britain at the Tehran Conference agreed to the dismemberment of eastern Poland. He considered this act a treacherous breach of the United States Constitution, since Roosevelt never reported his decision to the Senate. The Yalta Conference was the final death blow to Poland's hopes for independence and for a democratic form of government, according to Lane.

Following his career at the State Department, Lane was active in investigating the Katyn Massacre and also active in several anti-Communist organizations, such as the National Committee for a Free Europe. He would also later campaign for Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election, in opposition to his former boss, Democrat Harry Truman.

After his death, Lane's papers were archived in Yale University's Sterling Memorial Library.[3]

References

  1. ^ Presidents, Diplomats, and Other Mortals: Essays Honoring Robert H. Ferrell, edited J. Garry Clifford and Theodore A. Wilson, University of Missouri Press, 2007, p 75-76
  2. ^ "Poland" (List of Ambassadors to Poland). United States Department of State. 2004. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
  3. ^ Guide to the Arthur Bliss Lane Papers MS 5, Yale University Library

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Minister to Nicaragua
December 7, 1933–March 14, 1936 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Minister to Costa Rica
October 27, 1941–March 17, 1942 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Colombia
30 April 1942–18 October 1944 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Poland
4 August 1945–24 February 1947 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arthur_Bliss_Lane&oldid=641742317"