Final answer:
The reaction of the Western world to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was mixed and influenced by political and military factors. The Western powers declared war on Germany but did not provide effective support to Poland.
Step-by-step explanation:
The western reaction to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was mixed and influenced by various factors. Some political conservatives in England and France hoped for a German alliance against the Soviets, while the British military was not confident in its preparedness for war. The isolationist policy of the United States also diminished the hope of aid from Washington. France and Great Britain declared war on Germany but did not provide any help to Poland. The Soviet Union, which had signed a pact not to fight Germany, invaded Poland as part of a secret provision. Overall, the Western powers did not effectively respond to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, leaving Poland to face the combined onslaught alone.