Treaty of Alliance between France and Czechoslovakia
The Treaty of Alliance between France and Czechoslovakia was signed on 24 January 1924. Two further alliance treaties followed.[1][2] They were part of the French cordon sanitaire around Germany.
It undertook to proceed jointly in all matters of foreign policy which may endanger their security or destroy the situation created by the Peace Treaties [of 1919] signed by both parties. (Article 1). They further undertake to agree on the appropriate measures to be taken for the protection of their common interests, if these are threatened. (Article 2).
Under the Treaty of Mutual Guarantee concluded the next year on 16 October 1925 between France and Czechoslovakia within the framework of the Locarno Treaties, both States undertake mutually to render immediate help and support in the event of an unprovoked attack by Germany. The treaty will be valid as long as the Locarno treaties are in force. In the event of Czechoslovakia or France falling victim to an infringement of the agreements concluded this day between them and Germany for the preservation of general peace, France and Czechoslovakia, acting in application of Article 16 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, undertake mutually to render immediate help and support should this infringement be accompanied by an unprovoked armed attack. In the event of the Council of the League of Nations, in deciding a question submitted to it in virtue of the above-mentioned engagements, not succeeding in obtaining the acceptance of its report by all its members, insofar as they are not representatives of the parties to the dispute, and of Czechoslovakia or France being attacked without cause, France would, in application of Article 15, paragraph 7, of the League of Nations Covenant, immediately render help and support to Czechoslovakia and conversely Czechoslovakia to France.
The Franco-Soviet Alliance of 2 May 1935, and the Czechoslovak-Soviet Treaty of Alliance of May 16th following, which together represent on political and military unit, are of special importance. According to No.2, page 2, of the Protocol of the signature to the Czechoslovak-Soviet treaty. the obligation of assistance agreed upon between both States is only to become effective for both partners if, in the given case, France proceeds to render assistance. According to the terms of the Franco-Soviet treaty the decision as to the aggressor in the case of a German-Russian conflict lies in practice with the arbitrary judgement of the French Government.
Notes
How France could assist these countries, militarily, is questionable, as after also signing another 'Treaty of Mutual Guarantee' with Germany at Locarno, they pledged not cross German borders.
After the mass arrests and executions of Marshal Tukhachevsky and other very high-ranking officers of the Soviet Army & Navy in June 1937, the Czechoslovak General Staff lost its confidence in the Red Army Staff. On 22 January 1938, the Czechoslovak General Staff for the last time and for various reasons turned down the proposal of the Red Army Staff for the appointment of a mixed commission to examine the defence plans of both States. The Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry position had been weakened by the purges which had taken place in Russia because they revealed the Soviet regime's hopeless position, and the possibility of Soviet policy turning its back on the West. It was felt their Soviet ally was militarily unreliable.[3]
Sources
- ↑ Grenville, Professor J. A. S., The Major International Treaties 1914-1973, Methuen & Co., Ltd., London, 1974, ISBN: 416-09070-2.
- ↑ Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918-1945, by an editorial board, His Majesty's Stationary Office, London, Series D, vol.ii, 1950, no.88, p.171.
- ↑ German Documents, 1950, p.165.
