Czy rok 1916 był istotny dla spraw polskich w polityce Francji?

Abstract

Was the Year 1916 Essential for the Polish Question in French Politics? The article presents the political reflections of Polish pro–independence activists in France, in particular Roman Dmowski, Erazm Piltz, and Jozef Lipkowski, as well as the place of Polish issues in French politics. The author also focused on the French–Russian alliance and its significance for the Polish question. All these problems are depicted within the context of political– military changes along the Eastern front after 1915 and the prevailing international situation. Generally speaking, the article deals with the beginnings of the internationalisation of the Polish question due both to the activity of the Poles in France and the overall situation. The author indicated that in 1916 Polish activity in France was becoming for the French decision–makers a burden, which they tried unsuccessfully to exploit in the diplomatic game played with Russia. The Russians forbade the French to discuss the Polish question and successfully ignored the topic. Despite the military defeats suffered by Russia it was precisely the tsarist Empire that continued to constitute one of the prime points of reference of the French anti–German policy. In order to keep Russia within the coalition of allies and to attain a maximum attenuation of Germany, France was even ready to undertake steps detrimental to the Polish question, since they denoted a westward expansion of Russian rule.