The image of Soviet Russia, and then the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which became imprinted in the minds of Poles, was not very attractive. This is especially true of Soviet diplomacy. Older generations associate it primarily with Andrei Gromyka - known as the "Mister Niet", a long-time chief of diplomacy of the USSR, who during the Cold War most often responded to the West's proposals with the word "nie".
There was little finesse in this, but a response pattern was developed which - despite the changing situation - became the canon of Soviet, and later Russian, diplomacy. It is hard to break into our awareness that, first of all, this was not always the case, and least of all, that Soviet diplomacy could have been comprehensive, taking into account various circumstances and aspects of the functioning of the world.
Ambassador by force
Meanwhile, in the interwar period, this picture was completely different, at least in some cases. At that time, many outstanding personalities worked in the Soviet diplomacy, allowing the USSR to pursue its interests despite the hostile environment. One such figure was the Soviet ambassador to Great Britain, Ivan Mayski.
Interestingly, did not like his profession, he had literary and scientific ambitions . Fate put him in this environment. He became an ambassador to Great Britain thanks to previous acquaintances made while in exile. He was the son of a doctor, a Polish Jew and a village teacher, endowed with a lively temperament and wide interests. So he grew up in a house open to the world, appreciating knowledge and diligence. These characteristics of the parents passed to the son.
Andrei Gromyko - "Mister Nies" - with the word "nie" ("no") most often responded to the Western proposals. However, Soviet diplomacy was not always like this.
During his studies, he became involved with the Mensheviks. Accused of revolutionary agitation, he had to emigrate. He stayed in Switzerland and then in Bavaria, where he finished his studies. Before the outbreak of World War I, he moved to London. There he met people who played an important role in his life:Georgy Chicherin and Maxim Litvinov - later heads of Soviet diplomacy. They are also interesting characters, not quite fitting the common image of Russian diplomats.
Chicherin came from an aristocratic family with long roots. Thanks to his acquaintance with Litvinov, he became a counselor at the embassy in London. Forced to leave the post, he spent two years in Tokyo. In 1932 he returned to London as an ambassador. In this position, he has been fulfilled sensational.
He was extremely easy to establish contacts with people belonging to practically all political options. He moved well in the circle of aristocrats, among whom he made a significant position. He had a whole group of friendly politicians (and those from the front pages of newspapers) who decided about the fate of Europe . Finally, he had an excellent relationship in the journalistic milieu, which was of great importance given the building up of the image of the USSR. So it was an extremely accurate nomination which paid off for the country.
Risky logs
A passion for learning, coupled with Mayski's unique role in history, contributed to the creation of a unique thing:journals. Their uniqueness is due to several reasons. The most important is exceptional situational awareness and great acumen , sometimes also absolute sobriety or even brutality of the author's assessments. It allowed him to see phenomena and processes that were invisible to others.
Sobriety of reasoning produced amazing results in analyzing problems, as well as in drawing conclusions for the future. In this respect, Mayski was ahead of many of the leading politicians in Europe of that period. But uniqueness had another aspect. After all, Mayski was a regime officer who obsessed with looking for enemies and could find them anywhere.
Making a diary containing the author's thoughts, let's add not always politically correct, was therefore risky. After all, in the Soviet system, staying in the post for a long time was rather unique. Especially when a person's protector fell out of favor, which resulted in an avalanche of arrests. In such a case, such notes could at best take their author to Siberia, if not directly to the gallows.
Majski succeeded, although after his dismissal from the London facility he landed in prison and the notes fell into the hands of the secret services . Fortunately for us, it survived, although the journal was considered "inherently bourgeois", which in those realities was an exceptionally heavy accusation. This is a unique material because Majski did not have too many followers in the USSR.
The text was created, among others based on the book "Majskiego" edited by Gabriel Gorodetsky, which has just been released by Bellona.
Although diaries were created in the Western world, they often gave a one-sided image. In his memoirs, Majski shows us the world that goes beyond his point of view, although of course the diary is always a subjective text.
The presented book is an abridged version of Majski's diaries. The whole was published by Yale University Press in three volumes:"The Complete Maisky Diarie", vol. I – III, in 2018. Interesting is the history of the discovery of diaries in cavernous and rather inaccessible archives. The author of the study found them at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs by chance .
He devoted many years to the development of huge material. He penetrated all available archives, contacted Majski's heirs, consulted the Russian authors of the publication. He also confronted the notes with materials of a different origin. As a result, a unique work was created, sometimes shedding a completely new light on the described events, often showing the backstage of changes, without which understanding them would be incomplete, and sometimes even impossible.
The author had the courage to be critical of some political moves, also in the case of his own government. Majski noticed, for example, the wrong policy of concessions of the world to Hitler. We can see how much effort the author put into building a policy of collective security, trying to conclude an agreement between Great Britain and France and the USSR before the outbreak of the war, which did not appeal to the authorities in the Kremlin, which were already trying to seek an agreement with Hitler, which ultimately resulted in a pact Ribbentrop – Molotov.
A new style in politics
Majski initiated a certain new style of practicing politics by a representative of a given country in a diplomatic mission. As Gorodetsky points out, he was the first ambassador to systematically form public opinion in the country where he worked, and even manipulated it using the press. As he writes:
Majski, a great PR writer at a time when this concept did not even exist, found a common language with the opposition groups without any problems , with ordinary, rank-and-file members of parliament, with newspaper editors, with trade unions, with writers, artists and intellectuals.
Majski (on the right) initiated a certain new style of practicing politics by a representative of a given country in a diplomatic mission.
He was also able to resort to unconventional measures. Annual deliveries of caviar and Russian vodka to the owner of the Daily Express, Baeverbruk, provided the USSR with favorable press comments. He also met with important people from the City. He was convinced that the ambassador could not limit himself to official meetings. Thanks to his personal talents and enormous knowledge, he created an image of the USSR that was not a reflection of reality. If necessary, he skillfully leaked to facilitate his work.
"Let it be Soviet, as long as there was Poland"
Polish readers will probably be interested in Polish threads in Journals . They appear relatively often. Starting with the British-Soviet talks on the pre-war alliance and the promise of "pressing Poland" to it, to characteristics, often very critical , Polish politicians or the whole society.
By the way, he also presented the opinions of others, such as Lloyd George:"Poland! A country with a weak economy, torn by internal conflict, a country that has neither air force nor well-equipped military "
By the way, he also presented the opinions of others, for example Lloyd George:" Poland!" A country with a weak economy, torn by internal conflict, a country with neither air force nor well-equipped military ". He was well versed in British politics, he knew that Chamberlain was sure that the Germans would not dare to attack Poland after British guarantees, but also that they would not do anything after September 17, 1939. Majski noted:
I expect a protest note, an angry speech from the prime minister in parliament and a press campaign, but nothing else (...). My expectations are starting to come true. That evening, the British government made a powerless statement, not even a protest.
By the way, he shows the backstage of English policy towards Poland, which was revealed and implemented years later:“The British government is not considering rebuilding Poland within its former borders. All he is striving for is an ethnographic Poland (reminiscent of the Duchy of Warsaw from Napoleon's times), guaranteed by great powers, including the USSR ”. In Majski's opinion, the Polish government in London emphasized that it did not intend to complicate Britain's relations with the USSR, and in the backstage it was said that if Poland was occupied by Germany, the nation would die and would survive under the USSR occupation. "Let it be Soviet, as long as there was Poland."
Poles "can go to hell"
Sometimes there is information that is surprising to the Polish reader, such as the opinion of the Swedish ambassador to Great Britain, who believed that it would be best if the USSR bordered on Germany without buffer states. What is also amazing is Sikorski's opinion, just before the signing of the Sikorski-Majski pact, that Poland cannot still maneuver and should go with Russia against Germany , but also behind the scenes of establishing specific provisions, such as Zaleski's efforts to obtain lost property in the territories occupied by the USSR, which was ultimately included in a secret protocol, the devil. "
The assessment of the Polish nation was very critical. “It is hard to resist the impression that Poles are generally incapable of a longer and permanent existence as a fully independent and sovereign state body. The fate of Poland in the interwar period and the behavior of Sikorski &Co. the last 20 months are a perfect illustration of this. ”
photo:public domain It is also astonishing Sikorski's opinion, just before the signing of the Sikorski-Majski pact, that Poland cannot still maneuver and should go with Russia against Germany
This opinion is not surprising in the case of a representative of a superpower hostile to the Republic of Poland. In this context, Majski's conversation with Eden sounded interesting and surprising, in which Majski once again recalled his opinion about Poles, this time adding that the essence of the wisdom proper to statesmen consists in setting goals in politics commensurate with the resources and resources at their disposal. Poles have never followed this rule. On the contrary:they almost always chased the unattainable. Eden supported this line of thinking:"There is much right in what the Lord says." He recalled Bismarck's sentence that "politics is the art of the possible" .
We also learn from journals that "incl. Zaleski did not make any claims to the territories occupied by the USSR, but demanded - oh, those incorrigible Polish gentlemen - for strategic reasons of East Prussia with the expulsion of the Germans and Polish colonization. These are just some of the topics in the book. Therefore, the author of the diaries is right to say that they partially rewrite the history of the period to which they relate.
Logs is a special book, also showing how a penetrating man, endowed with exceptional intelligence and talent, did not notice mistakes or even crimes in the politics of his own country, how he agreed to compromise with his own conscience. It confirms the old truth, once expressed by the master of diplomacy, Otto von Bismarck, that a politician is generally an honest man who goes abroad to lie in the interests of his own country. In this, Majski was a real champion.
Source:
The text was created, among others based on the book "Majskiego" edited by Gabriel Gorodetsky, which has just been released by Bellona.