740.0011 Mutual Guarantee (Locarno)/926
The Polish Ambassador in France (Łukasiewicz) to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs (Delbos)45
Aide-Mémoire
The serious attention of the Polish Government has recently been drawn to the exchanges of views which have taken place during the last few months between the German, Belgian, British, French and Italian Governments, towards the establishment of a basis for a new Western Pact. As these exchanges of views have now reached a considerable state of development, the Polish Government considers that it is its duty to make its position clear with regard to these conversations.
1. The Polish Government has followed these conversations with the greatest interest, not only because of their importance for the future of European peace, but also because of the close connection of Polish interest in any settlement destined to replace the Locarno accords. A happy issue from such negotiations might result in creating a political détente, desired by all governments, and also might facilitate a return to normalcy in the general European situation. Such an issue would likewise contribute to an economic rehabilitation towards which all countries are now bending their efforts.
2. This important result, which the Polish Government also desires, might be reached if the proposed settlement embodied those essential elements on which rest European consolidation. The failure to realize this condition, inspires the fear that this settlement, instead of assuring European peace, may possess all the disadvantages of a partial accord, which would be incapable of offering serious resistance to difficulties which might arise.
3. The Polish Government, seriously preoccupied by this state of affairs, considers that the settlements suggested by the above-mentioned exchange of views, would not prove really effective unless they took into account elements of security such as Polish accords with France and Germany, both of the last named powers are particularly intersted in a Western settlement; as well as the Franco–Polish treaty of alliance, in existence prior to the Locarno accords, and the Polish-German declaration of non-aggression which became operative in the meantime. Owing to the existence in this sphere, of contractual ties between Poland and France on the one hand, and Poland and Germany on the other, Poland is obliged to play an active part in the task of consolidating the political situation in Western Europe.
[Page 121]4. Despite Polish reservations to the Locarno accords to which the Polish Government has publicly given expression on numerous occasions, it should not be forgotten that these (Locarno) accords already, to a certain extent took Polish interests into account. These accords have therefore since become for Poland the basis of definitely acquired rights in this sphere.
However, the Polish Government believes it necessary to recall its previous declarations in which it was stipulated that any treaty affecting Polish interests, negotiated without Polish participation, would be unacceptable to it. The same would apply to any treaties, the bases of which, as in the case of the two accords of 1925, would not give Poland sufficient satisfaction.
5. The Polish Government believes that Poland has a dual interest in the proposed settlement, and is disposed to collaborate in the common task of European stabilization, as long as its own interests are properly safeguarded. The Polish Government expresses the hope that the governments engaged in this settlement will take into full account the importance of the considerations above-mentioned; all the more so as it would appear important that the development of Polish policy should take place within the framework of the new system, rather than remain independent from it.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in France in his despatch No. 1012, September 8; received September 21.↩