Polska pod naciskiem mocarstw zachodnich (styczeń–lipiec 1938 r.)

Abstract

Poland under the Pressure of the Western Powers (January–July 1938)

The year 1938 was a forecast of events leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War. From the Polish point of view it was essential that Poland had found herself facing developments decisive for a certain configuration of forces on the international arena. The prime ally – France – wished at all cost to force Poland to consent to a written commitment, namely, that the Polish side would not attack Czechoslovakia once the German threat became a fact. The French and the British were dissatisfied with suitable verbal assurances. Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski, the Polish Ambassador in Italy, aptly expressed the very heart of the matter: “We do not wish to incur harm upon the Czechs, but in the face of their notorious ill will towards us we have neither the duty nor the willingness to help them”. The pressure exerted by the Western powers, which did not hasten to assume the sort of obligations that they wished to impose upon Poland, lasted uninterruptedly until July 1938. French diplomacy applied a double standard regarding France and the Polish ally. This did not bid well for future cooperation in the case of an outbreak of a world war.