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Germany and
Poland signed a 10-year non-aggression pact: "...The moment has
arrived for inaugurating a new era in Polish-German political
relations by means of direct communications between the two
countries." It was proposed by Hitler, and Poland never
consulted France, its chief ally. Germany was signaling that it had
no quarrel with Poland, but only with Communist Russia. Warsaw had
concluded it could no longer rely on outside support in preserving
Poland’s independence. The treaty stated that neither signatory
would "proceed to use force in order to settle" disputes.
The pact was also significant in that Poland became the first nation
to enter into a harmonious relationship with the new Nazi regime.
Warsaw was anxious to avoid becoming involved in the quarrels of
Poland’s neighbors, and the pact accurately reflected a Polish
policy of trying to maintain friendly relations with all powers.
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