PCBaller World/Poland/Treaty of Zgorzelec

The Treaty of Zgorzelec was a Multilateral treaty between the Polish Social Nationalist Republic, The Republic of Sorbia and The North German People's State establishing the Polish-German border via the Pomerania Purchase and the Polish-Sorbian Border via the Independence of the Republic of Sorbia.

Background
After the conclusion of the 13-day civil war in Poland, a period of instability ensued along the western border. The Polish Social Nationalist government, for a few months, refused to acknowledge the existence of Sorbia as an independent state, resulting in several skirmishes along the border and a failed Sorbian offensive. The collapse of the Federal Republic of Germany further complicated matters as the Polish-German border became ambiguous. The North German People's state claimed Pomerania, despite previous German governments recognizing the Oder as the border line. Recognizing the dangers and unsustainability of maintaining the chaotic nature of the western border, Ziółkowski and his staff proposed a conference in Zgorzelec to settle the border in the Oder region.

The purchase of Pomerania by North Germany had been on the agendas of both governments. Germany sought a return to its historic borders with Poland, while Poland aimed to expedite its recovery from the civil war. Ziółkowski's idea of resolving the entire western border of Poland in one treaty was thus killing two birds with one stone.

The Sorbian government was initially skeptical of allowing a German delegation into the capital, and Tamara Vlasov refused to meet with any German officials. However, they recognized that Sorbia having a say in Polish-North German relations was preferable to the possibility of a secret alliance or partition plan of Sorbia by Poland and North Germany. As a result, Sorbia permitted the German delegation, led by X, to meet with Sorbian Minister of Strategy and War Hajndrich Hans Smoler in Zgorzelec.

Ziółkowski was the only head of state or government in attendance, as both Sorbia and North Germany were wary of each other. This meeting is considered the beginning of the Kultokrat of Poland being utilized to conduct German-Sorbian diplomacy.

Negotiations
At the outset of the conference, the participants prioritized the matter of Sorbian borders, given that this concerned all parties involved. Regarding the North German-Sorbian border, the existing occupational lines were generally adhered to, with the exception of Zielona Góra, which was allocated to Sorbia, and Frankfurt an der Oder, which was assigned to North Germany due to ethnic considerations. Additionally, a minor dispute over farmland was arbitrated by Ziółkowski. Meanwhile, the Polish-Sorbian border proved more complex, with military lines often bisecting cities and buildings in a manner that would not serve as a practical border. Ultimately, the parties determined that more industrial cities would be incorporated into Poland, while more rural cities would be allocated to Sorbia. It was also decided that farmland along the border would follow property lines, with any farmland split by military lines to be given to Sorbia, and any industrial buildings split in half to be allocated to Poland. However, a disagreement emerged over the North in Wielkopolska voivodeship, as both sides laid claim to Poznań. The Kultokrat even threatened military incursion into southern Poznań, which was under Sorbian control, though the matter was ultimately settled by North-German arbitration. The status of Wielkopolska would be determined by a plebiscite, with joint control in place for the time being.

Subsequently, negotiations shifted to the new Polish-North German border and the sum of money that North Germany would have to pay for Pomerania. The new borders were generally delineated along the historical Polish-North German northern border in 1938, with a few exceptions for border towns, factories, airports, railway hubs, cemeteries, and churches. Border lakes were to be divided down the middle. The key point of contention surrounding the Polish-North German border was the amount of compensation that North Germany would have to pay. Initially, Ziółkowski demanded 850,000,000 złoty (181,283,750 Euro), but after further negotiations and discussions between Ziółkowski and Smoler, the amount was ultimately reduced to 398,546,478 złoty (85,000,000 Euro). In exchange for this reduction, Poland would be allowed to repatriate all transportable capital from Pomerania to the Polish mainland and resettle the entire Polish population of Pomerania within the Polish mainland. Moreover, North Germany would recognize the Polish borders in the east (Eastern Galicia, Lithuania, and Kaliiningrad), guarantee Polish independence, and safeguard its territorial integrity against foreign invasion (though not internal revolution).

Text of Agreement
Treaty of Zgorzelec

Preamble: The Parties to this Treaty, reiterating their commitment to the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, have agreed to the following terms:

Article 1: Recognition of Sorbian Independence and Borders

 * Poland and North Germany shall mutually recognize the independence of Sorbia and the borders established at the Zgorzelec conference.

Article 2: Repatriation of Capital and Population of Pomerania

 * North Germany and Poland shall establish a transitional state in Pomerania with the objective of repatriating all capital and population to Poland proper. Upon the completion of this process, North Germany shall annex the region.

Article 3: Recognition of Polish Control over Lithuania, East Galicia, and Kaliningrad

 * Sorbia and North Germany shall acknowledge Polish control over Lithuania, East Galicia, and Kaliningrad de jure.

Article 4: Payment of Funds

 * North Germany shall pay the sum of 398,546,478 złoty (85,000,000 Euro) to Poland over a period of seven years as a payment for the Pomerania region.

Article 5: Mutual Defense

 * North Germany and Sorbia shall protect Poland in the event of a foreign invasion. In the event of a revolution within Poland, North Germany and Sorbia are not obliged to protect Poland, but are authorized to support it legally.

Article 6: Recognition of Borders

 * Sorbia shall recognize the Polish-North German borders agreed upon at the Zgorzelec conference.

Article 7: Promoting Positive Relations

 * Poland promises to act in the interest of positive relations and friendship between Poland and North Germany, as well as Poland and Sorbia. Poland shall not enter into secret pacts against North Germany or Sorbia.

Article 8: Release of Prisoners of War

 * Polish prisoners of war in Sorbia shall be released, and vice versa.

Article 9: Semi-Open Borders

 * Towns split by the Polish-Sorbian border shall have semi-open borders with no visa requirements, but only a passport.

Article 10: Non-Aggression

 * North Germany and Sorbia shall not enter into secret agreements with other countries against Poland.

Article 11: Border Militarization

 * Polish-North German and Polish-Sorbian borders shall not be heavily militarized unless there is a necessity for it.

Article 12: Joint Control of Wielkopolska Voivodeship

 * Wielkopolska voivodeship shall be under joint Polish-Sorbian control until a plebiscite for the region is organized by a third-party organization or country.

Article 13: Termination of Zabójcy zła

 * Poland shall cease all activity and espionage of the Zabójcy zła organization in Sorbia and North Germany.

Article 14: Termination of SOPOW

 * Sorbia shall cease all activity and espionage of the SOPOW organization in Poland.

Done in five originals, each in the English, Russian, Polish, German, and Sorbian languages, all texts being equally authentic.