Charles Richard Crane
Encyclopedia
Charles Richard Crane was a wealthy American businessman, heir to a large industrial fortune and connoisseur of Arab culture, a noted Arabist
. His widespread business interests gave him entree into domestic and international political affairs where he enjoyed privileged access to many influential power brokers at the top levels of government. His special arena of interest was Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
. In the 1900s, he brought Thomas Masaryk, Maksim Kovalevsky
and Pavel Milyukov
to lecture at the University of Chicago
. After meeting Masaryk, he became interested in Slavic nationalism
and sponsored The Slav Epic
paintings by Alphonse Mucha When Mucha designed the Czechoslovak bills
, he used a previous portrait of Josephine Crane Bradley as Slavia for the 100 koruna bill.
Crane later helped finance the first explorations for oil in Saudi Arabia
and Yemen
. He was instrumental in gaining the American oil concession there.
President William Howard Taft
appointed Crane minister to China on July 16, 1909, but on the eve of his departure to his post on October 4, 1909 , he was recalled to Washington and forced to resign under pressure by then U.S. Secretary of State Philander C. Knox. He was forced to resign after being held responsible for the publication in a Chicago newspaper, objections held by the U.S. government over two recently signed treaties by Japan and China, and further, speculated war with Japan, opening the potential of an unwanted diplomatic row.
Crane contributed heavily to Woodrow Wilson
's 1912 election campaign. Wilson rewarded Crane with appointments to the 1917 Special Diplomatic Commission to Russia, known as the Root Commission, as a member of the American Section of the Paris Peace Conference
, and to the 1919 Inter-Allied Commission on Mandates in Turkey
that became known as the (King-Crane Commission
). While the commission was originally proposed by the U.S. to develop an international consensus on the future make up and status of post-WWI Middle East nations, the commission was quickly became a U.S.-only sponsored effort. With the appointment of Crane as co-head of the commission, it set about to issue a report to inform U.S. policy makers. In respect to the creation of a Jewish state in the Middle East, the report cautioned "Not only you as president but the American people as a whole should realize that if the American government decided to support the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, they are committing the American people to the use of force in that area, since only by force can a Jewish state in Palestine be established or maintained." Crane opposed the establishment of a Jewish state in the Middle East, but was as a passionate spokesman for the independence of the Arab states.
Crane was appointed U.S. Minister to China
by President Wilson and served from March 22, 1920, to July 2, 1921.
In 1925 Crane founded the New York-based Institute of Current World Affairs
. The institute employed field representatives in Mexico, Jerusalem, and occasionally Moscow, who representatives compiled regular reports on developments in their regions, and shared their expertise during ICWA-sponsored lecture tours of major U.S. universities. The reports were also made available to the U.S. State Department.
American ambassador to Germany in 1933, Crane wrote Dodd a letter of congratulation that told him:
Crane admired Adolph Hitler and had no objection to how the Nazis were treating Germany's Jews. He told Dodd: "Let Hitler have his way."
Arabist
This is an article about the western scholars known as Arabists, not the political movement Pan-Arabism.An Arabist is someone normally from outside the Arab World who specialises in the study of the Arabic language and Arab culture, and often Arabic literature.-Origins:Arabists began in medieval...
. His widespread business interests gave him entree into domestic and international political affairs where he enjoyed privileged access to many influential power brokers at the top levels of government. His special arena of interest was Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Biography and diplomatic activity
He was the eldest son of plumbing parts mogul, Chicago manufacturer, Richard T. CraneRichard T. Crane
Richard Teller Crane , son of Timothy Botchford Crane and Maria Ryerson, was the founder of R.T. Crane & Bro., a Chicago-based manufacturer.-Nineteenth Century:...
. In the 1900s, he brought Thomas Masaryk, Maksim Kovalevsky
Maksim Kovalevsky
Maksim Maksimovich Kovalevsky was a sociologist and professor of Legal History at the University of St Petersburg.He studied at the University of Kharkov under Dmitri Kachanovsky....
and Pavel Milyukov
Pavel Milyukov
Pavel Nikolayevich Milyukov , a Russian politician, was the founder, leader, and the most prominent member of the Constitutional Democratic party...
to lecture at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. After meeting Masaryk, he became interested in Slavic nationalism
Slavic nationalism
Slavic nationalisms*Pan-Slavism*Russian nationalism**Slavophile*Ukrainian nationalism*South Slavic, see rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire**Macedonism / National awakening of the ethnic Macedonians**Illyrian movement...
and sponsored The Slav Epic
The Slav Epic
The Slav Epic is a cycle of 20 large canvases painted by Czech Art Nouveau painter Alfons Mucha between 1910 and 1928. The cycle depicts the history of Czechs and other Slavic peoples. In 1928, after finishing his monumental work, Mucha bestowed the cycle to the city of Prague on condition that...
paintings by Alphonse Mucha When Mucha designed the Czechoslovak bills
Czechoslovak koruna
The Czechoslovak koruna was the currency of Czechoslovakia from April 10, 1919 to March 14, 1939 and from November 1, 1945 to February 7, 1993...
, he used a previous portrait of Josephine Crane Bradley as Slavia for the 100 koruna bill.
Crane later helped finance the first explorations for oil in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. He was instrumental in gaining the American oil concession there.
President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
appointed Crane minister to China on July 16, 1909, but on the eve of his departure to his post on October 4, 1909 , he was recalled to Washington and forced to resign under pressure by then U.S. Secretary of State Philander C. Knox. He was forced to resign after being held responsible for the publication in a Chicago newspaper, objections held by the U.S. government over two recently signed treaties by Japan and China, and further, speculated war with Japan, opening the potential of an unwanted diplomatic row.
Crane contributed heavily to Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
's 1912 election campaign. Wilson rewarded Crane with appointments to the 1917 Special Diplomatic Commission to Russia, known as the Root Commission, as a member of the American Section of the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
, and to the 1919 Inter-Allied Commission on Mandates in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
that became known as the (King-Crane Commission
King-Crane Commission
The King-Crane Commission was an official investigation by the United States government during the summer of 1919 concerning the disposition of non-Turkish areas within the former Ottoman Empire...
). While the commission was originally proposed by the U.S. to develop an international consensus on the future make up and status of post-WWI Middle East nations, the commission was quickly became a U.S.-only sponsored effort. With the appointment of Crane as co-head of the commission, it set about to issue a report to inform U.S. policy makers. In respect to the creation of a Jewish state in the Middle East, the report cautioned "Not only you as president but the American people as a whole should realize that if the American government decided to support the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, they are committing the American people to the use of force in that area, since only by force can a Jewish state in Palestine be established or maintained." Crane opposed the establishment of a Jewish state in the Middle East, but was as a passionate spokesman for the independence of the Arab states.
Crane was appointed U.S. Minister to China
United States Ambassador to China
The United States Ambassador to China is the chief American diplomat to People's Republic of China . The United States has sent diplomatic representatives to China since 1844, when Caleb Cushing, as Commissioner, negotiated the Treaty of Wanghia. Commissioners represented the United States in...
by President Wilson and served from March 22, 1920, to July 2, 1921.
In 1925 Crane founded the New York-based Institute of Current World Affairs
Institute of Current World Affairs
Founded in 1925 by wealthy American philanthropist Charles R. Crane, the Institute of Current World Affairs is a Washington, D.C-based 5013 which provides fellowships, allowing Americans under age 36 to live in a foreign country for two years. Their observations and research are published in...
. The institute employed field representatives in Mexico, Jerusalem, and occasionally Moscow, who representatives compiled regular reports on developments in their regions, and shared their expertise during ICWA-sponsored lecture tours of major U.S. universities. The reports were also made available to the U.S. State Department.
The 1930s
Crane was virulently anti-Semitic. He expressed his animosity towards Jews in meetings with his business and diplomatic contacts as well as in social situations. When Franklin Roosevelt appointed William E. DoddWilliam Dodd (ambassador)
William Edward Dodd was an American historian who served as the United States Ambassador to Germany from 1933 to 1937, during the Nazi era.-Early years and academic career:...
American ambassador to Germany in 1933, Crane wrote Dodd a letter of congratulation that told him:
Crane admired Adolph Hitler and had no objection to how the Nazis were treating Germany's Jews. He told Dodd: "Let Hitler have his way."