Wilson and Paderewski – Postcard from the Cycle: “Pictures from the Glorious Days of the Polish-American Fraternity”

Ignacy Jan Paderewski worked to promote his homeland’s cause throughout his life. Whilst taking advantage of his numerous contacts and enormous popularity, he tirelessly advocated the case for restoring the right of Poles to an independent country. It is said that because of Paderewski’s actions, on 8th January 1918, in his address to Congress, President Woodrow Wilson delivered his 14 Points, of which number 13 was most relevant to Poles: “An independent Polish state should be erected, which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant.” This was the culmination of all of Paderewski’s efforts and actions on American soil.