To play the Game...
During last several weeks the international security position of Poland has got significantly worse. Apparently Biden's White House administration is looking for new allies against China. That's why Joe Biden abandoned NS2 sanctions, met with Vladimir Putin, and is trying to convince Angela Merkel to take more resposibility for Central Europe.
Poland got put aside.
Since 2015 USA is primary (and the only) Poland's political and military ally. This new situation was a shock for polish authorities. They haven't prepared any alternatives and now facing consequences.
Once in 20-30ties Poland had a similar problem. How did it deal with it then?
After the I WW France regarded Poland as a main ally in Central Europe to encirclement Germany instead of Tsar Russia which, as Soviet Union, was out from balancing game in Europe. That's why during Versaille Conference France undoubtly supported polish territory demands and provided large military, finance and political aid in the process of new polish state borders shaping.
For Poland the french support couldn't be under estimated that time. Especially during soviet threat in 1920 when fresh polish independence stood on a verge.
Successfully the period of storm ended and the new polish state was born. The time has come to fomally enter into an alliance. The Polish-French treaty was signed on Feb 19th 1921. Both parties obliged to support each other politically and militarly against any Versaille Treaty revisions especially from Germany but also from Soviet Union and to consult political and military plans and policies in Central Europe.
After the I WW France became the main continetal Europe super power and the main Poland's ally against two great oponents, Germany and Soviet Union.
The honeymoon did not last long. Since 1924 France foreign policy shifted towards closer relations with the Great Britain and reconciliation with Germany. The effect was Locarno conference and french eastern borders guarantees by Germany and western powers with the refusal of such guarantees in regards to polish western borders.
Next steps was french propositions to revise the text of the polish-french treaty which were submitted in 1926 and 1927. In 1928 France and Germany started negotiations of early Nadrenia zone evacuation by French which finalized a year later during a conference in Haag with the date of evacuation by June 30th 1930. In the same year France made a decision about Maginot defence line construction. In that time France also refused polish request of a loan for military spendings and proposition of building an air base near Posen with abilities to attack Berlin from the air.
In 1933 as a part of improving relations with Germany and weaken obligations to its central european allies France took part in Treaty of Four initiative and propose an Eastern Treaty where Germany and Soviet Union were planned as guarantors of inviolability of borders in Central Europe.
The sequence of french steps in foreign policy was definately unfavorable for polish security situation. Very similarly to the present day.
How polish authorities and the leader Marshal Piłsudski reacted? They just broaded polish autonomy in foreign policy.
Firstly, Piłsudski changed the foreing affairs minister from francophile Zalewski to Beck. Next he tested french reactions to some military steps like entering polish warship to Gdansk harbour, increasing amount of soldiers in Westerplatte and finally unofficial offers of prevention attack against Germany.
Secondly Poland took steps to improve relations with its neighbors. Signed a Non-agression Pact with Soviet Union in 1932 taking an advantage of the fear of Russians of the increase in anti-soviet sentiments in Germany and nazi party popularity.
Then, with the east flank secured, Poland was able to start new realtions with Germany under the new chancelor Hitler. After a few provoking military actions in Gdansk and prevention war offers to France aimed at „softening” Hitler a Non-violence Pact talks began and ended up with a Polish-German treaty signed on January 26th 1934.
Poles didn't have to wait long for French reaction. Three months later a new France foreign affairs minister Barthou visited Warsaw asking if anything changed with the polish attitude to Polish-French military treaty from 1921. He left Poland assured that nothing has changed and France still remains the main Poland's ally.
That way Polish-French alliance lasted unrevised since 1921 untill 1939 despite french attempts to weaken its obligations.
Epilogue
In 1939, four years after Marshal Piłsudski death, polish foreign affaris minister Beck tried solely to play similar treaty game. This time against Germany – a new polish unofficial ally in Central Europe. After partition of Czechoslovakia in 1938 a new pact proposal arised from Hitler to Poland. In order to improve its negotiating position Beck signed a new treaties with France and Great Britain. The bluff failed.
Adrian Hofman
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