Podjęto problem stosunku państw Ententy do kwestii restytucji państwa polskiego w latach 1918–1919. Przeanalizowano relacje twórców Rzeczypospolitej, szczególnie Romana Dmowskiego, Józefa Piłsudskiego oraz Ignacego Jana Paderewskiego, z Wielką Brytanią, Francją i Stanami Zjednoczonymi, kluczowymi partnerami i graczami politycznymi w okresie paryskiej konferencji pokojowej (1919 r.). Na relacje powyższe długi cień rzucały stosunki Ententy z pokonanymi Niemcami oraz – w równym stopniu – z „białą” i bolszewicką Rosją. Państwa Ententy dbały przede wszystkim o zachowanie i poszerzenie swoich wpływów w Europie Środkowej i Wschodniej. Bardzo ważne były też interesy niemieckie i niemiecka Ostpolitik w tym regionie Europy, prowadzona konsekwentnie od schyłku XIX w. Tak więc polityka mocarstw wobec Polski była jedynie funkcją ich stosunku do Rosji i Niemiec. Stawiało to Polskę, u zarania jej nowego bytu politycznego, w niezmiernie trudnych warunkach, zwłaszcza w zakresie walki o granice. W tym szczególnie wschodnie rubieże państwa. Polska jako w pełni samodzielny podmiot polityczny nie mieściła się w ówczesnej konfiguracji europejskiej, a nawet w mentalności polityków, zwłaszcza brytyjskich, myślących kategoriami kolonialnymi. Z ich punktu widzenia była państwem nowym, tworzonym niejako z nadania swoich protektorów. Jedynie Francja i w niepełnym zakresie Stany Zjednoczone traktowały Polskę jako samodzielny oraz suwerenny byt polityczny. Dla Niemiec możliwe było istnienie Polski jedynie jako państwa buforowego, kadłubowego i niesuwerennego, które byłoby łatwym terenem penetracji i eksploatacji.

The attitude of the Triple Entente and Germany towards Polish eastern policy in the years 1918–1919

The article discusses the problem of the attitude of the Tripe Entente states towards the restoration of Poland in the years 1918–1919. Relations between the creators of the Republic of Poland (in particular Roman Dmowski, Józef Piłsudski, and Ignacy Jan Paderewski) and Great Britain, France and the USA — the key partners and political players in the period of the Paris Peace Conference (1919) — were analyzed. Those were greatly affected by the relations between those states and the defeated Germany, as well as “White” and Bolshevik Russia. The Triple Entente cared mainly about maintaining and expanding their influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Also, of major significance were the German interests and Ostpolitik in this region of Europe, consistently implemented from the late 19th century. Therefore, the policy of the world powers towards Poland was indirectly affected by their attitudes towards Russia and Germany. In the early days of Poland’s political existence, it put Poland in an extremely difficult situation, especially when fighting for its borders, in particular in the east. Poland, as a fully independent political entity, did not fit in the European model of the time — even in the minds of politicians, especially British, who were still thinking in co82 Grzegorz Łukomski lonial categories. From their point of view, Poland was a new state, created upon the will of its protectors. Only France and, to some extent, the United States treated Poland as an independent and sovereign political entity. For Germany, Poland could exist only as a buffer, rump, non-sovereign state, which would be easy to invade and exploit.

Key words: Triple Entente, Germany, Ostpolitik, state restoration, Curzon Line, Polish policy, international policy, Eastern Borderlands, Piłsudski Józef, Paderewski Ignacy J., Dmowski Roman

The article discusses the problem of the attitude of the Tripe Entente states towards the restoration of Poland in the years 1918–1919. Relations between the creators of the Republic of Poland (in particular Roman Dmowski, Józef Piłsudski, and Ignacy Jan Paderewski) and Great Britain, France and the USA — the key partners and political players in the period of the Paris Peace Conference (1919) — were analyzed. Those were greatly affected by the relations between those states and the defeated Germany, as well as “White” and Bolshevik Russia. The Triple Entente cared mainly about maintaining and expanding their influence in Central and Eastern Europe. Also, of major significance were the German interests and Ostpolitik in this region of Europe, consistently implemented from the late 19th century. Therefore, the policy of the world powers towards Poland was indirectly affected by their attitudes towards Russia and Germany. In the early days of Poland’s political existence, it put Poland in an extremely difficult situation, especially when fighting for its borders, in particular in the east. Poland, as a fully independent political entity, did not fit in the European model of the time — even in the minds of politicians, especially British, who were still thinking in co82 Grzegorz Łukomski lonial categories. From their point of view, Poland was a new state, created upon the will of its protectors. Only France and, to some extent, the United States treated Poland as an independent and sovereign political entity. For Germany, Poland could exist only as a buffer, rump, non-sovereign state, which would be easy to invade and exploit.