As the New Atlantic Charter was recently signed to reaffirm Anglo-American commitment to democracy and strengthen trade deals, how was the original Atlantic Charter received and who did it benefit? Held up as a blueprint for the post-war order, the original charter signed in 1941, signalled new international cooperation - but for some, it signalled betrayal as the principles were applied haphazardly. Anglo-Polish relationships soon soured after the Polish government-in-exile asked why Britain was not adhering to the much celebrated principles of the Charter.