Bank for international settlements

This study is an attempt to bring together and evaluate up-to-date information about the Bank for International Settlements. It grew out of the realization that amazingly little is known about the work of this institution in the United States. The author later realized the absence of any recent appraisal of the work of the Bank anywhere. The value of such a study in these days of ever increasing international contact is that the assembled facts may enable the reader to learn something concerning the difficulties confronting this type of institu tion, their proper solution, the genuine services such an organization can contribute to international financial stability, and the limitations inherent in such an institution.

This study is based on the author's doctoral dissertation at Columbia University. At the outset, therefore, the author wishes to acknowledge the help and encouragement of Prof. B. Beckhart without which the original study would never have been undertaken. The number of persons, institutions and sources to which the author is indebted are far too numerous to mention, yet a special word of thanks must go to the officers and employees of the Bank itself, who during several visits to Basle gave time and help to this writer in much greater measure than he had any right to expect. They also made available to him the vast and excellent collection of the library of the Bank at Basle. In the early phases of the work two books proved particularly helpful and no doubt have left their mark: The Bank for International Settle ments at Work by E. Dulles and Die Bank für Internazionalen Zahlungs ausgleich by A. Chambaty.