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10-April-1920
We had spent almost two weeks in long negotiations with the British and, if it could even be called that, with the French, whose negotiating delegation had arrived late. On several occasions, I had been forced to expel the British delegation because they refused to concede absolutely anything.
The commission charged with investigating the conditions of the prisoners of war had toured our camps. Although, on occasion, one of its British members mysteriously got lost during certain parts of the inspections, my secret police agents always managed to return him with almost all his teeth intact.
After so many days of negotiations, we had finally managed to make them stop presenting absurd demands and begin reducing their conditions to something more acceptable to my interests.
''During our investigation, it was discovered that eight prisoners died during their period of captivity. However, we must point out that those deaths were caused by hypothermia after the prisoners escaped from their places of confinement and were exposed to the winter cold. In two of the mentioned cases, the German authorities managed to capture them again, but they already showed advanced symptoms of hypothermia. Although they were transferred to hospitals and received treatment, neither survived long after admission'' one of the Swiss envoys explained while reading the investigation report.
''That said, this commission considers that the treatment received by the prisoners has been excellent. Their food has been more than adequate, their accommodations are in optimal condition and they have numerous facilities intended for their entertainment and well-being. Therefore, we conclude that everything observed complies with the international statutes relating to the maintenance of prisoners of war and that the German-Baltic authorities have done everything within their power to ensure that those conditions were respected'' continued the head of the investigating commission.
''And what about the treatment received by German prisoners in British hands? Have you found any violation of international treaties in the way they treated my men?'' I asked without moving much, while observing the nervousness of the commission members.
''According to the report given to us by the British officers, there was an order not to accept the surrender of your troops, since they were considered rebel forces. As they were not linked to any recognized State, the British command maintains that it was not obligated to grant them the rights corresponding to soldiers who surrendered'' the head of the commission replied.
''But I am obligated to grant those rights to them… Hum, curious'' I said, interlacing my hands while observing the British delegation, which was once again seated in front of me after several days of fruitless negotiations.
''Good. We have now confirmed what concerned us most. Now we need a complete list of the prisoners to be prepared quickly, as well as a schedule for our troops to be returned as soon as possible'' Stephen Tallents said after nodding at the information provided by the commission.
''I believe you are forgetting the most important matter: what will happen in the future with these lands. I do not intend to leave and I will not return the prisoners while I receive nothing that benefits my interests'' I replied severely.
As soon as I said those words, the British envoys went on alert and began whispering among themselves. They knew perfectly well that I understood English and that they could not discuss anything in front of me without me hearing it.
''Very well. Let us hear your proposal'' the British diplomat finally said after consulting with his aides.
''Let us begin with the obvious. I want to be recognized as the legitimate ruler of the Baltic Duchy, regent of Ruthenia and regent of Ukraine. I also demand the reopening of maritime trade, the return of the islands you currently occupy and, naturally, reparations for the damage caused to the Baltic cities during your naval bombardments'' I said seriously.
As soon as those words left my mouth, the diplomat shook his head almost immediately, as did the other envoys.
''We will not allow you to retain control of the entire east, much less recognize you as the legitimate head of a government'' the diplomat replied.
''Then I have no reason to return your prisoners. You can continue spending millions every day to maintain a naval blockade that, in the first place, is not doing much. A large part of the money and goods that reach my territories do so by rail from Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. Beyond emptying your pockets and unnecessarily prolonging the conflict, your blockade is not accomplishing very much'' I said, staring at them.
''We want you to liberate the countries you keep oppressed. We are willing to allow you to temporarily retain your position as regent of Ruthenia, but your army must be dismantled under the supervision of an Allied commission. You will also have to destroy your military factories and pay for all the British ships you have sunk'' the diplomat replied.
''At last you begin to concede something, but that still offers me practically nothing. I have already said it: my government is here to stay. I will maintain my authority in the Baltic and my positions as regent'' I insisted.
''We demand constitutional guarantees that allow the peoples under your control to use their own languages in civil life. You must also accept a constitution drafted with our participation, under which you will remain only as provisional head of State'' the British diplomat counteroffered.
''No. The imposition of German is important for my administration and I will not accept a constitution designed to make it impossible for me to govern either. So, no'' I replied quickly.
''If you refuse to concede absolutely anything, we will be forced to continue the war and mobilize our nation again. I recommend that you begin to be realistic, because, in purely military terms, we can crush you with ease'' the British commander intervened.
''I do not doubt that. But can you endure another mobilization for several years? That is the real question'' I replied calmly. ''However, I recognize that both of us will have to concede something if we want to reach an understanding. I am willing to free Poland from my control. It will retain the territories it currently possesses, but it must agree to become a State of absolute neutrality. That means it will have no army, no military industry, no foreign policy and must reject any territorial change''.
The British immediately appeared much more relaxed at my offer.
''It is an interesting offer, but what guarantees that, the very day we withdraw, you will not invade Poland again? Without an army or military capability, you would only have to march on the capital to end everything'' the diplomat said.
''International guarantees. If anyone invades Poland, the guarantor States will declare war on them. Even I myself could offer that guarantee. We have no real interest in those lands, since I never built anything there, but we will not allow Poland to become your armed vanguard either, as you unsuccessfully tried to do'' I replied calmly.
''Under those conditions, we could tolerate your presence in the Baltic, but we will not recognize the legitimacy of your government. We continue to maintain that you illegally occupy the States that should have been constituted in these territories, but you will not be able to maintain your position as regent in Ruthenia or Ukraine. Those countries must be liberated immediately'' the diplomat replied.
''Ha… And what will happen with the prisoners? What will happen to the tens of thousands of men we have locked up in our camps? Will you allow me to keep them so they can help with the repairs? Because, supposedly, you no longer have anything to offer me in exchange for them'' I said calmly while interlacing my fingers.
''We can exchange them for the return of the islands that remain under our control. If you want your islands back, you will have to hand over our prisoners and return the captured weapons'' the British diplomat replied.
''That is too high a price for a few islands. You can keep them. I would rather exchange the prisoners for recognition of my control over the regencies of both kingdoms'' I replied, without showing too much interest in recovering the islands under those conditions.
''If we do not return them, we will establish an Estonian government there that will become a permanent nuisance for your administration'' the diplomat insisted.
''Then I suppose you will have to maintain an enormous and costly garrison there to make sure I do not throw myself at them the moment your ships leave the area, yes?'' I asked with interest.
''The islands and the regency of Ruthenia. The regency of Ukraine is not negotiable. Ukraine must recover its king, if he is still alive, and become a free country'' the diplomat said after letting out a heavy sigh.
''Good… We can reach an agreement on that, but I still have something else to place on the table. I would like to negotiate three final matters. Alexander'' I said, looking at my officer.
Alexander opened the briefcases and began placing piles of documents, photographs of executed soldiers and several tapes with recordings of the interrogations carried out onto the table.
''What is all this? These are…'' the diplomat began to say while taking one of the documents.
He began reading, and his expression grew increasingly serious as he moved through the lines.
''Here are documented each and every one of the violations of the laws of war committed by your troops. We have interrogated those responsible, gathered their testimonies and even recorded the confessions of those who participated in the worst acts committed during their stay in the Baltic. All your crimes are here'' I explained with a smile.
I leaned slightly forward as nervousness spread among the British diplomats and their assistants.
''And I intend to spread all of it through the neutral countries. I will use my contacts to make sure every newspaper in the world receives copies of these documents and photographs. Everyone will know the crimes you committed here''.
''What do you want?'' the diplomat asked, breathing heavily.
''First, you will publicly announce that you have liberated Ukraine and that there is no longer a regency. However, I will continue ruling in practice, my forces will remain there and you may tell whatever story you prefer. Second, none of my possessions will pay reparations. And third, the one hundred and five officers found guilty of executing my men while their hands were raised will be hanged by my government'' I said, staring fixedly at the British diplomats.
''And what guarantees do we have that afterward you will not use this information to demand new concessions?'' the diplomat asked, completely tense while reviewing several sheets and photographs.
''There is only one other copy of all this, and it is under my control. Once this part of the agreement has been fulfilled, I will make sure all the documentation is destroyed and there will be no proof left of what happened'' I replied seriously.
I pointed at the photographs spread across the table.
''You will accept those conditions because I have no intention of allowing you to judge your own men and then declare them innocent. Besides, that way you will avoid having to explain how they died. Mark them as missing in action and the matter is settled''.
The British diplomat remained silent for a few moments before wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.
''Good… We accept. The treaty will declare that Poland and Ukraine have been liberated, while you will officially retain the regency of Ruthenia. We will not recognize your authority over Ukraine, but we will not intervene while you continue governing it either'' he finally replied.
''Alexander, go and burn these documents. Once all the conditions have been fulfilled, we will also destroy the last copy and there will be no record left of your crimes'' I ordered.
Alexander began gathering the folders while I looked back at the British delegation.
''With that resolved, is there anything else left to negotiate?'' I asked, much calmer now that all the important matters had been agreed upon.
''Yes. There are still some important issues left to define. As part of this agreement, we want you to publicly break your political ties with Germany and abandon any attempt to maintain the old order, under which your territories would have ended up as German colonies. We also demand favorable economic conditions for British capital'' the diplomat replied.
''Ah, leaving out the French… I love it. Then I only have to forget about the previous relationship I maintained with Germany, in which they demanded that I perform miracles so their government would have enough food. Where do I sign?'' I asked with a smile.
''Eh… Well, you also will not be able to participate in any German project and must maintain a neutral position regarding them. You will not be able to sign treaties that especially favor Germany, guarantee commercial privileges to its companies or sell them products below market prices solely to benefit your former homeland'' the diplomat explained, seeming somewhat confused by my reaction.
''Yes, thank you. Then we can talk about reduced taxes for British companies that want to invest here and lower tariffs for your products. I assume those concessions could also apply to my companies when they trade with the British Empire, could they not?'' I asked, stretching my neck.
''That will depend on the degree of cooperation you demonstrate in the future with the interests of our government'' the diplomat replied.
''Good. If there is nothing else to discuss for now, let our diplomats handle the minor details. The general proposal seems acceptable to me. Tomorrow you will receive the plan for the return of the prisoners, so the process can begin as soon as the islands are restored to us'' I replied with a broad smile.
I shook the British diplomat's hand and left the room with an even wider smile.
The British themselves had just shielded me against Germany.
All that remained was to protect myself from Russia, and I would be able to consolidate a truly sovereign State, without having to worry about Germany trying to abuse my supposed loyalty or that of my men.
Now there was a treaty that prevented me from favoring Germany excessively and that would force the British to intervene diplomatically if Berlin tried to subject me to its authority again.
How wonderful.
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