[The Polish Cause in France in 1914-1920, SMÓLSKI Karol] A collection of documents, typescripts and manuscripts related to Karol Smólski's activities for the Polish Cause in France in 1914-1919 and a typescript of "Memoirs from 1914-1919"

[The Polish Cause in France in 1914-1920, SMÓLSKI Karol] A collection of documents, typescripts and manuscripts related to Karol Smólski's activities for the Polish Cause in France in 1914-1919, as well as a typescript of the same author's "Memoirs from 1914-1919" [Paris 1935].

Karol Smólski (1864-1952) was a diplomat, Head of the Translation Bureau of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (he later held the honorary position of Vice-Director). Smólski was an active and important Polish activist (especially on the creation of thePolish Army in France and support for the Reborn Republic) in French circles, as evidenced by the materials on offer. At the threshold of the Second Republic, he met, among others, with Ludwik Hieronim Morstin, adjutant to General Tadeusz Rozwadowski (1866-1928), then head of the Polish Military Mission.

Smólski was also a collector and friend of artists active in Paris at the time, such as Olga Boznanska. The works of art he donated are now in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. These include works by Olga Boznanska (several oil works), Teofil Kwiatkowski, Jozef Chelmonski and Alfred Swieykowski. The MNW also received from Smólski the library he had collected.

The present collection of documents is a copy of the documentation that Karol Smólski sent through the military attaché in Paris in the 1930s to Jozef Pilsudski himself. As it turns out from Smólski's collected notes (included in this offering), this documentation, which sometimes contained very interesting and valuable information on the life of the Polish community in France and political relations within France, never reached the Marshal's desk.

Why did this happen? This we do not know. Smólski himself commented that the reason could have been that his reports and memoirs revealed a lot of new information and shed light on previously unknown facts, including unfavorable ones.

The offered set of documents is an interesting contribution to the history of Polish emigration in France on the eve of the First World War and until the 1930s.

List of documents:

SMÓLSKI [also: Smolski] Karol - "Verba Veritatis". : Memoirs of the years 1914-1919 by Karol Smólski. Paris 1935. typescript on office paper. Pp. 40, 22, 20, 18. h. 27 cm. Loose typescript pages.

Folds of margins, stains, yellowing of paper. Numerous corrections and cross-outs indicate that this is an author's working copy of the typescript with changes by Smólski himself.

A typescript of Karol Smólski's memoirs and at the same time "Memorial", which he submitted through the Military Attache at the Polish Embassy in Paris, on March 19, 1933. Smólski describes in the introduction that the typescript was probably never handed over to the Marshal.

The memoirs are accompanied by a handwritten note by Karol Smólski dated March 10, 1934, describing his character and activities for the Polish Cause, as well as the positive reception of the Galician Legions (read: Polish Legions) in France, which were initially treated very negatively because of their anti-Russian stance.

He also lists examples of selfless support for the Polish cause by Mr. de Navailles, an important official in the French Foreign Ministry.

In addition, a fragment of an envelope with 5 lacquer seals imprinted with the Jastrzebiec coat of arms and a short note in the contents was preserved:

"Envelope containing Karol Smólski's "Memoirs" of the 1914 war, together with numerous attachments (autographs and prints), proving the truth of the facts cited by the author, and to be opened only after his death."

Among other things, it contains intelligence notes for the French Government from 1917 regarding the Polish community and individuals (specifically, Mr. Abczynski, an engineer) related to the recruitment of volunteers for the Polish Army in France.

In addition, a manuscript of a note by Ludwik Hieronim Morstin (1886-1966), count, diplomat, editor, poet, major of infantry of the Polish Army - along with a business card of the same.

Typescript. Polish Embassy, pap. chanc. Paris, dn. April 25, 1933 [Dear Sir, In reply to your letter of 23 b. m. I hasten to communicate that the dispatch addressed to Mr. Marshal Pilsudski, which you deposited on March 21 this year at the Office of the Military Attaché, was immediately sent to Warsaw. However, the lack of response to your letter, addressed to Mr. Military Attaché, is due to the circumstance that Mr. Col. Bleszynski left for an extended vacation in the country and your letter could not be delivered. I take this opportunity to send you the expression of high respect and esteem]. Dimensions 21 x 13 cm. Signature (autograph) illegible.

Enclosures referred to by K. Smólski in his letter to Marshal Jozef Pilsudski:

Attachment No. 1. handwritten letter. (translation from French). (letterhead.) [Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Republic (Republic of) France. Paris, 19. 09. 1915. gracious sir! ... The author explains himself for the delay in the repayment of the debt...He suggests that, in connection with the memorandum, the matter should be moved forward...everything should be settled to the benefit of us as well as France...the situation that has arisen with regard to Germany is extremely favorable...]. S. 2. Dimension 27 x 20.8 cm.

Appendix No. 2. typescript. (Translated from the French). [Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Directorate of Administrative and Technical Affairs. Vice-Directorate of the Chancellery of Administrative Litigation. Republic (Republic) of France. Paris, 26. 07. 1917 Note to Mr. de Margerie. Mr. Smolski certifies that he knows Mr. Abczyński, from the side of patriotic activity, both in Poland before the war and now in France [...] [Abczyński - footnote BB] has shown great activity in the matter of realizing the project of creating a Polish Army in France [...]. Dimensions 27 x 20.7 cm.

Appendix No. 3 [Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Association France - Pologne. Republic (Republic) of France. Paris, 26. nov. 1921. to: the Honorable Mr. K. Smolski Head of the Translation Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paris. [Thanks to K. Smolski for his assistance to POWs and Poles residing in France. Includes information that the association will not require further active cooperation, limiting itself only to Mr. Smolski's advice. Signed Secretary: A. Menabrea. Dimension 29.7 x 21.7 cm.

Appendix No. 5. typescript. (Translated from the French). [Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Directorate of Administrative and Technical Affairs. Vice-directorate of the Chancellery of Administrative Litigation. Republic (Republic) of France. Paris, 29. nov. 1916. [Dear friend, A new Memorandum was handed to Mr. CHAUMET in a very short time...I don't know, but you did everything you could in the interests of France and Poland. (After your return to the Ministry, let's take a randez -vous to have breakfast together.). Sincerely devoted to you (signed) NAVAILLES]. Dimension 27 x 21 cm.

Appendix No. 6. typescript. (Translated from the French). [ Dear Monsieur de Navailles, here are the results of my inquiries pertinent to the Polish question: in 4 four subsections an account of the activities in the Polish question. Signed (Cudenet)]. Dimensions 27 x 21 cm.

Appendix No. 8. typescript. (Translated from the French). [Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Directorate of Administrative and Technical Affairs. Vice-Directorate of the Chancellery of Administrative Litigation. Republic (Republic) of France. Paris, 17. feb. 1934. [ Dear Colleague and Friend...Expressions of appreciation and sincere devotion to the efforts in favor of the Poles. Signed: Navailles. Dimension 27 x 21 cm.

Appendix No. 3 French original. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Association France - Pologne. Republic (Republic) of France. Paris, 26. nov. 1921. to: the Honorable Mr. K. Smolski Head of the Translation Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paris. [Acknowledgment to K. Smolski for his assistance to prisoners of war and Poles residing in France. Signed by the Secretary: A. Menabrea. Dimensions 29.7 x 21.7 cm.

Attachment No. 7 Manuscript/ fr. (With attached translation and visiting ticket). Manuscript: Dimension 30.5 x 20 cm. (Lined page pasted on other paper.) Visiting ticket: Lieutenant Comte Louis Morstin. Membre de la Mission Diplomatique et Militaire Polonaise a Paris. Dimension 6 x 10 cm. Translation (from time. Mr. Morstin's notes) "Berthold is to bring to the Conscile (sic) Supreme a memorandum (sic) on aid to the Coalition for the Poles in the fight against the Bolsheviks...Question about the course of the talks on this matter between Loyd Georg and Clemansou."]. Dimensions 15.5 x 20 cm.

Visitor's ticket pasted on paper card. Docteur B. Motz with description. [Inscribed: one of the visiting tickets of Dr. Motz, given each time by him to the usher Mr. Smólski for reception by the latter in his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris]. Dimensions pap. 25 x 17.4 cm. Ticket dimensions. 6 x 9.5 cm.

Enclosure No. 1. May 16, 1919. A copy of a note containing Mr. Navailles' opinion on a draft treaty on minorities submitted to him for legal (international law) study. This copy was made by Mr. Navailles' own hand and given by him as a souvenir to Mr. Smólski in 1919. Dimension 27 x 21 cm.

Notebook No. 4. Containing several personal documents concerning K. Smólski and his parents.

Manuscript on letterhead. Foreign Affairs. French. Department of Technical and Administrative Affairs. April 7, 1932 [Mr. President, Please grant me authorization to assert my rights to a pension...]. Signed Ch. Smolski. Dimensions 21 x 13.5 cm.

Typescript. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Department of Personnel. Republic of France. Paris, April 22, 1932. [President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs to Mr. Smolsky, Spensational Head of the Interpreters' Bureau. [You have been authorized to exercise your rights to a retirement pension...]. For the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador of France Secretary General: BERTHELOT. Dimension 27 x 21 cm.

Typescript. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Department of Personnel. Republic of France. Paris, August 10, 1931. [Minister of Foreign Affairs to Mr. Smolsky, Head of the Office of Interpreters in the Central Administration. I have the honor to inform you that by decree dated August 7, 1931, the P. President of the Republic appointed you, on my proposal, as Officer of the Legion of Honor...]. For the Minister and by authorization of the Minister Plenipotentiary Head of Personnel and Accounting: Harismendy. Dimension 27 x 21 cm.

Typescript. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Department of Personnel. French Republic. Paris, September 12, 1932. [President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs to Mr. Smolsky, Deputy Honorary Director. [I have the honor to inform you that by decree dated September 7, 1932, the rank of Honorary Deputy Director has been granted to you.] Dimensions: 27 x 21 cm.