The British Pledge to Poland: Prelude to War

Revolutions in national policy often are not logically conceived. Instead of calm and order as the statesmen ponder momentous decisions, they are immersed in confusion and harried by conflicting advice. Consequently the end result of hasty decisions is but dimly perceived, if at all. Britain's decision of March 31, 1939 to support Poland was not taken after calm deliberation of all available policies. Responsible leaders failed to comprehend all the implications of the pledge for they believed that the pledge alone would stave off war.1