Difficult Beginnings: The Problem Concerning the Restoration of Diplomatic Relations between Poland and Japan after World War II

• Authors: Rutkowska Ewa
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The main aim of this paper is to analyze the process leading to the reestablishment of official relations between Poland and Japan after War World II. The authoress intends to present this process on the basis of unknown and unpublished primary sources, in Japanese and in Polish. There has been no research on this topic, despite the fact it is important also in its regional and global role, in the context of processes taking place in Europe, Asia and around the world. Bilateral relations between Poland and Japan were broken off on 11 December 1941, after Japan engaged in Asia-Pacific war. After the war, the Iron Curtain was falling deeper between East and West, the division between the two camps was becoming vivid. Post-war Poland found itself in the zone of Eastern influence, totally dependent on the USSR. This dependence naturally included Polish foreign policy also towards Japan. Greater possibilities for negotiations appeared after the death of Stalin (1953) and from that point the talks on reestablishing diplomatic relations were intensified.

Keywords

EN

Japanese-Polish diplomatic relations; Japanese foreign policy after WW II; Polish foreign policy after WW II Bilateral relations

• Publisher: Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
• Journal: Acta Asiatica Varsoviensia
• Year: 2016
• Issue: 29
• Pages: 147-163

Dates

published

2016-12-01

Contributors

author

Rutkowska Ewa

• University of Warsaw

References

• The present material is a result of my research supported by the Japan Foundation Fellowship Grant (2013). Hereby, I express my deep gratitude to the Foundation for its generous support.
• The Ambassador of Japan in Paris, Matsui Yoshikazu, passed this decision to the Chairman of the Polish National Committee, Roman Dmowski, on 22 March hence this date is considered official by the Polish side. See: Komitet Narodowy Polski – Paryż [Polish National Committee – Paris], pp. 31–35, The Central Archives of Modern Records, Warsaw; Taishō hachinen sangatsu muika no kakugi kettei [Cabinet Decision, 6 March 1919] in 1.4.3.17 Ōshū sensō kankei Pōrando mondai ikken [Problem of Poland Concerning the War in Europe], Gaimushō Gaikō Shiryōkan (Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; hereafter as GGS); More information on Polish-Japanese relations in: Ewa Pałasz-Rutkowska and Andrzej T. Romer, Historia stosunków polsko-japońskich 1904–1945 [History of Polish-Japanese Relations 1904–1945], Warszawa: Wydawnictwo TRIO, 2009 (the first edition of the book: Warszawa: Bellona, 1996); the same book in Japanese as: Nihon Pōrando kankeishi, Tōkyō: Sairyūsha, 2009.
• ‘Potsdam declaration’ in Zbiór dokumentów [Collection of Documents], The Polish Institute of International Affairs (hereafter as ZdPISM), 1951, No. 9–10, Doc. 129, pp. 1540–1544. Representatives of the United States and Great Britain signed the Potsdam Declaration with the concurrence of the representative of China, Jiang Jieshi. The signature of Stalin would be considered a breach of the law since the USSR was not officially at war with Japan and still had to abide by the neutrality treaty. The Russians joined the war on 8 August 1945. On the occupation of Japan and postwar situation see e.g.: Nakamura Takafusa, Shōwashi [History of Shōwa], Vol. 2, 1945–89, Tōkyō: Tōyō Keizai Shinpōsha, 2012, pp. 483–582.
• See: ZdPISM 1951, No. 9–10, Doc. 128, pp. 1537–1539.
• “Dept. Polityczny, Wydz. Wschodni, Japonia 08. Org. stosunków dyplomatycznych (…), 1947” [Political Department, Eastern Division, Japan 08. Organization of diplomatic relations /…/, 1947], collection 6, file 1535, bundle 97, pp. 1–2, The Central Archives of Modern Records (hereafter as AAN), Warsaw.
• Political Department, Eastern Division, Japan 2421. Political notes, 1947, collection 6, file 1536, bundle 97, p. 1, AAN.
• Ibid., pp. 6–7.
• Ibid., pp. 8 and 9–10.
• Political Department, Eastern Division, Japan 25. Republic of Poland's economic relations. Propositions of establishing trade relations with Japan, 1947, collection 6, file 1537, bundle 97, pp. 1–8, AAN.
• Ewa Pałasz-Rutkowska and Katarzyna Starecka, Japonia [Japan], Warszawa: Wydawnictwo TRIO, 2004, pp. 218–219. On San Francisco Conference see also: Nakamura Takafusa, pp. 562–582.
• Wojciech Materski and Waldemar Michowicz (eds.), Historia dyplomacji polskiej [History of Polish Diplomacy], Vol. 6, 1944/1945–1989, Warszawa: PISM, 2010, p. 421.
• Treaty of Peace with Japan in:
• https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20136/volume-136-I-1832-English.pdf (accessed 12.10.2015).
• Japan recognized the independence of Korea, abandoned the claim to Taiwan, Penghu Islands, Kuril Islands and a part of Sakhalin. Traktat pokoju z Japonią [Treaty of Peace with Japan] see also: Ludwik Gelberg (ed.), Prawo międzynarodowe i historia dyplomatyczna. Wybór dokumentów [International Law and History of Diplomacy. Selection of Documents], Vol. 1, Warszawa: PWN, 1954, pp. 455–465.
• Security Treaty Between Japan and the United States of America, Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo: http://www.ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~worldjpn/documents/texts/docs/19510908.T2E.html (accessed 12.10. 2015); See also: Traktat o bezpieczeństwie między USA a Japonią [Security Treaty between the USA and Japan] in Prawo międzynarodowe…, Gelberg (ed.), Vol. 1, pp. 466–467. Those forces were only to be used to keep peace in the region and to secure Japan from an outside attack. It was also stated that Japan would not grant permission to set military bases on its territory to any other country without consent of the USA.
• Materski and Michowicz (eds.), Historia dyplomacji polskiej, Vol. 6, p. 421.
• ZdPISM 1951, No. 9/10, Doc. 151 i 154, pp. 1806–1811 and 1827–1837.
• Ibid., Doc. 157, pp. 1936–1948.
• ZdPISM 1951, No. 9/10, Doc. 159, pp. 1969–1971.
• Ibid., Doc. 160, pp. 1972–1979.
• Materski and Michowicz (eds.), Historia dyplomacji polskiej, Vol. 6, p. 423.
• See: http://www.ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~worldjpn/documents/texts/docs/19510908.T1E.html; Cf.: Prawo międzynarodowe…, p. 465.
• Department V, Division III, Japan 08. Establishing diplomatic relations with Japan, 1954–1957, collection 12, file 367, bundle 15, p. 1, AAN.
• Department V, Division III, Japan 08. Establishing diplomatic relations with Japan, 1954–1957, collection 12, file 367, bundle 15, p. 1, AAN.
• Ibid., p. 2.
• Ibid., pp. 4–8.
• Pōrando to no kokkō kaifuku ni kansuru ken [Case of Reestablishing Diplomatic Relations with Poland] in A’1.3.3.5-1 Nihon Pōrandokan gaikō kankei zasshū. Kokkō kaifuku kōshō kankei [Various Documents Regarding Diplomacy between Japan and Poland. Negotiations Regarding Reestablishing National Relations], Part 1, pp. 15–35, GGS.
• Ibid., pp. 33–35.
• Project of the agreement see: ibid., pp. 38–40.
• Ōshū shomondai ni taisuru kyōsan’en no tachiba ni tsuki Pōrando taishi no danwa [Talk with Polish Ambassador Concerning the Stance of the Communist Bloc towards Various European Issues], A’1.3.3.5-1, Part 1, pp. 68–73, GGS.
• Full text of the exposé in: Trybuna Ludu [People's Tribune], 17 March 1955, pp. 3–5.
• ZdPISM 1956, No. 10, Doc. 308, pp. 1584–1591.
• Historia dyplomacji polskiej, p. 425.
• Ewa Pałasz-Rutkowska and Katarzyna Starecka, Kalendarium kontaktów polsko-japońskich [Timeline of Polish-Japanese Contacts], Japonica, No. 12, 2000, p. 224. See also: Pōrando Nihon kankei nenpyō [Timeline of Polish-Japanese Contacts] in Shopan – Pōrando – Nihon; Chopin – Polska – Japonia [Chopin – Poland – Japan], Tōkyō: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., 1999, pp. 237–238.
• Letter from Mori Motojirō to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland in Department V Division III, Japan 568. Note on the foundation of The Japan-Poland Society 1956, collection 12, file 364, bundle 15, pp. 1–2, AAN.
• The Society was disbanded in 1961 then revived in 1975 thanks to Mori’s efforts. Documents from the collection of Mori Mariko.
• Note from 24 October 1956 in Department V Division III, Japonia 08…, p. 7, AAN.
• Department V Division III, Japonia 074. Wizyta w Polsce japońskiego Ambasadora w Hadze S. Okamoto [Japan 074. Visit to Poland of the Japanese Ambassador to Hague, S. Okamoto], collection 12, file 362, bundle 15, pp. 1–7, AAN.
• Ibid., p. 6.
• Waga kuni to Tōō shokoku to no kankei [Our Country's Relations with Eastern European Countries] and Tōō shokoku to no kokkō kaifuku mondai ni kansuru keii [Details Concerning the Issue of Reestablishing National Relations with Eastern European Countries] in: A’1.3.3.5-1, Part 1, pp. 81–94, GGS.
• Note from 24.10.1956 in Department V Division III, Japonia 08..., p. 7, AAN.
• Ibid., pp. 7–8.
• For example see note from 22 October 1956, Pōrando no kokkō kaifuku mōshiire no ken [Case of Proposal of Reestablishing National Relations with Poland] in A’1.3.3.5-1, Part 1, pp. 95–97, GGS.
• Ibid., pp. 110, 118–119 and 120.
• Ibid., pp. 109–128.
• Ibid., pp. 128–139.
• Ibid., pp. 144–150, 167–170, 177–182 and 190–194.
• Ibid., pp. 220–227.
• A’1.3.3.5-1, Part 2, p. 80.
• „Departament V Wydział III, Japonia 08....”, pp. 18–20, AAN.
• A’ 1.3.3.5-1, Part 1, pp. 291 and 302, GGS.
• Japanese version in A’ 1.3.3.5-1, Part 2, pp. 19–22; English version pp. 79–81, GGS; Polish version in Department V Division III, Japonia 08…, pp. 19–20, AAN.
• See: Press Office, Embassy of the Polish People’s Republic, „Press Release” in A’ 1.3.3.5-1, Part 2, p. 79, GGS; Japanese version in A’ 1.3.3.5-1, Part 1, p. 289, GGS; Polish version in Trybuna Ludu, 09 February1957, p. 1.
• About the course of preparations see various documents in A’ 1.3.3.5-1, Part 2, pp. 17–66, GGS.
• Department V Division III, Japonia 08..., p. 23, AAN.
• A’ 1.3.3.5-1, Part 2, p. 71, GGS.
• Note for Minister Naszkowski, Director of Department V Słuczański in Department V Division III, Japan 091. Organizational and human resource matters of the planned embassy of the PRP in Tokyo, 1957, p. 23, AAN.