Western betrayal

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Western betrayal is a popular term in several Central European nations (including Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) which refers to the foreign policy of several Western countries during the period from the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 through World War II and to the Cold War. It is rooted in the perception that the western Allies — despite glorifying democracy and self-determination in public statements, and despite having signed numerous international pacts and military alliances with the countries in question — nonetheless betrayed their Central European allies by not fulfilling the signed alliances, and by doing nothing to prevent them from becoming communist states dominated by the Soviet Union.

Related Topics:
Central European - Poland - Czech Republic - Slovakia - Western countries - Treaty of Versailles - 1919 - World War II - Cold War - Democracy - Self-determination - Pact - Military alliance - Communist state - Dominated by - Soviet Union

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The concept is disputed by some, who argue that Churchill and Roosevelt had no option but to accept Stalin's demands in Tehran and later in Yalta. President George W. Bush in a speech in Latvia on May 7, 2005, accepted this concept, describing Yalta as an "attempt to sacrifice freedom for the sake of stability" where "when powerful governments negotiated, the freedom of small nations was somehow expendable."

Related Topics:
Churchill - Roosevelt - Stalin's - Tehran - Yalta - President George W. Bush - Latvia - 2005

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