The Helsinki Conference/Treaty of Helsinki of 1949
One of the Halls of the Helsinki Presidential Palace where the Conference took place in 1949.
The year of 1905 was the year when Japan defeated Russia, which marked the first time in Modern History when a European Power was defeated by an Asian Power. 44 years later, Japan became the first Asian power to be a dominant power over Europe. Shortly after the conclusion of the German-Japanese War, much of Europe, especially Eastern and Central Europe was in ruins. Emperor Hirohito had decided that there needs to be a conference to settle all of the disputes. The Japanese had considered Rome, Budapest, and Stockholm to the venue for the conferences. But eventually in January of 1949, it was decided that Helsinki would be the place for the conferences. The conferences began on March 3rd of 1949, at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, where the Emperor of Japan attended along with the leaders of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Yugoslavia, Hungary, the Ukraine, and Russia along with delegates from France, Finland, Romania, Belorussia, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Austria.
Chiune Sugihara, was one of the major brokers for the Helsinki Conferences.
Anton Novotny, represented Czechoslovakia during the conferences
Regent Miklos Horthy represented the Kingdom of Hungary during the Helsinki Conferences.
Throughout the entirety of the conferences, Tensions where no more tense than between Novotny of Czechoslovakia and Horthy of Hungary over the debate over the fate of Ruthenia and Southern Slovakia, in which, there were occasions where the two leaders exchanged nasty words between each other. On March 10th, after the decision was made by the Japanese to recognize Southern Slovakia as a part of Czechoslovakia, Horthy came up to Novotny was called him a Czeskey*, when Novotny wrestled with Horthy, which the fight would last for 5 seconds before it was broken up by Piasecki and two Kenpeitai officers and the two were separated. These tensions would result in Horthy refusing to ratify the Treaty. Which would be one of the causes for the Czechoslovak-Hungarian War, which came after the treaty. The Japanese would attempt to broker a peace deal between the two nations in an attempt to relieve the situation, but it would eventually fail.
The Original Plan for Postwar European Border proposed by the Japanese. This included Silesia and Belorussia becoming Independent States, Ruthenia being a semi-autonomous state, Galicia being set up as a buffer state between Ukraine and Poland, the ceding of some areas of Poland to Belorussia, the ceding of Wilno to Lithuania, the ceding of Danzig to Poland, the ceding of much of the Croatian and Yugoslav Adriatic Coasts to Italy, and the ceding of Karelia and Komi to Finland.
A Minor revision to the original plan, which included the creation of an independent Cossack State, the creation of a united Federated Caucasian State*, revised Polish, Ukrainian, and Galician borders.
The Yamashita Plan, which was named after it's author, General Yamashita, saw a revised Galician, Cossack State, Ukrainian, and Lithuanian Border, the ceding of Pomerania and East Prussia to Poland, and the ceding of Ruthenia to Galicia.
Finally, there was the Tojo Plan, which was made by Hideki Tojo, which saw an independent East Prussian State*, the elimination of Galicia, and Armenia ceded to Turkey**, the ceding of Bessarabia to the Ukraine.
One of the major areas of debate during the conference was the possibility of Polish Land Gains. The Polish Delegation had stated that they wanted to see Silesia, Pomerania, and East Prussia be ceded to Poland, where as the Japanese originally wanted just Silesia becoming an independent nation. After much debate, the ultimate decision was made by Hirohito himself, Silesia will become an independent nation, Pomerania and East Prussia was to be incorporated into Poland, the fate of the Germans living there was not a concern to the Emperor.
Hakija Hadzic was the main Delegate representing the Independent State of Croatia.
Another area of debate was of Italian Claims along the Adriatic Coastline, for Italy, none other than Benito Mussolini himself was present, and for the Croatians, Hakija Hadzic represented the NDH during the Helsinki Conferences. The Italians during the conference were attempting to reaffirm it's control over the Croatian Adriatic Coastline and also Corsica, in which they successfully did. However, Hadzic protested this and demanded unsuccessfully, that if Mussolini does not withdraw's his claims, Croatia will invade these territories and liberate them. Mussolini however laughed at this idiotic threat, and Hadzic stormed out of the conference angrily.
Covering this event were many different journalists from many countries, including those from the BBC, who extensively covered the event, one of these was Marjorie Anderson, who told the story from outside of the Palace. She would later receive an award for reporting on the Conference.
Marjorie Anderson, who reported to the world about the Conference, who go on to be apart of the BBC's Woman's Radio Hour.
On March 28th, 1949, the Treaty Document had it's final edits and it was passed around the negotiations table, the peoples of Europe held it's breath as the Empire of Japan decided the future of Europe. In which, most of the dignitaries had signed the document, which sealed the fate of Europe.
Borders of Europe, circa 1950.
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* = A Derogatory term for Czechs
** = Turkey's 1948 Invasion of Armenia, which they formally annexed into Turkey.