In the spring of 1917, due to the disintegration of Russia, Germany’s aggressive desire to enlarge its power, and the entry of the U.S. into the war, the independence of Poland gained more importance as a term for peace. Ignacy Paderewski had the Colonel’s graces for Poland. House not only gave Paderewski access to Wilson, he always brought up Poland whenever he met with British diplomats. The British diplomats accepted a new Polish state with access to the sea. They, however, preferred an autonomous Poland under the jurisdiction of Russia. British Foreign Secretary Lord Balfour firmly believed that an independent Poland would cut Russia off from a means to attack Germany should the Prussian state ever attack France. When House met with Balfour in April 1917, he recommended that the British should not view Germany as the likely enemy fifty years from now, but Russia as a possible enemy. House himself viewed Poland as a buffer state between Russia and Germany. Even with Russia in chaos, Balfour and the British refused to accept this view at that time, wishing instead to preserve the status quo. However, by the end of the summer of 1917, the U.K. began to accept the benefits of Polish independence to the war cause.
©2006 Tim Sheehan