The Soviet-French treaty on mutual assistance became the basis of the “collective security” policy pursued by the USSR in 1933-1939. and directed against the threat of aggression by Nazi Germany and its allies. The treaty provided for mutual assistance in the event that one of the contracting parties became the object of aggression from a third state. The plans of Soviet leaders and some political leaders of France, Czechoslovakia and other European countries to create whole system collective security failed - primarily due to the policy of appeasing the aggressor pursued by Great Britain and France. France did not fulfill its obligations to protect Czechoslovakia in 1938, after which the USSR began to look for an opportunity to change unreliable partners, which led to the Soviet-German rapprochement in 1939.
The Soviet-French Treaty of 1935 became the pinnacle of the USSR's policy aimed at creating a system of collective security.
In the 20s, the USSR, although it was recognized by a number of European states, still remained an “outcast” of the system international relations, established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles, summing up the results of the First World War. The USSR was not a member of the League of Nations and was a stronghold of the Comintern, which threatened capitalist countries with world revolution. But after the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933 and the emergence of a hotbed of military danger here, the policy of the Soviet leadership began to change. As an alternative to the policy of Soviet-German rapprochement pursued in the 1920s, it was decided to seek friendship with France. This also corresponded to the intentions of the French ruling circles, who were also interested in creating a counterweight to Hitler's Germany. A supporter of rapprochement with the USSR against Germany was French Foreign Minister Louis Barthou.
On October 20, 1933, Germany withdrew from the League of Nations, thereby challenging the guarantors of the Versailles Treaty of France and Great Britain.
In November 1933, the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks made a fundamental decision to reorient foreign policy from Germany to France. On January 11, 1934, a Soviet-French trade agreement was signed, and on February 16, a Soviet-British one. The USSR was ready to join the League of Nations, which was previously considered by Moscow as the headquarters of world imperialism. Now the Soviet Union wanted to become a loyal member of the world community. On December 19, 1933, the Politburo finally decided on its readiness to join the League of Nations (provided that League arbitration could only concern those obligations that the USSR accepted after joining it, and not old disputes such as Bessarabia). The USSR also proposed other reservations, which were ignored by the League countries.
On September 18, 1934, the USSR nevertheless joined this organization “in order, within the framework of the League of Nations, to conclude a regional agreement on mutual defense against aggression from Germany.” After this, Bartu said: “My main task has been achieved - the government of the USSR will now cooperate with Europe.”
At first, the “encirclement” of Germany was supposed to be carried out not harshly, proposing to conclude an “Eastern Pact” modeled on the Locarno agreement of 1925, which guaranteed Germany’s western borders. Now the Germans were also asked to guarantee the immutability of the eastern borders of their state, defined at Versailles in 1919. According to the plan of French diplomacy, the “eastern Locarno” was to be signed by Germany, the USSR, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the Baltic states. At the same time, France and the USSR had to conclude a separate convention, which also guaranteed the “Eastern Pact” and Locarno. But France was not an Eastern European state. Therefore, the idea of two separate treaties arose - the Soviet-French and the “Eastern” ones. People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the USSR Maxim Litvinov proposed combining these two schemes, convincing Bartha that an “Eastern Pact” was needed with the participation of France, but without Germany. Litvinov did not believe that Hitler would agree to sign this pact.
Indeed, the idea of the “Eastern Pact” was alien to Hitler - he planned to return, first of all, the territories seized from Germany after the First World War, as well as Austria, whose population spoke German. Barthoux tried to persuade his British colleagues, who had better relations with the Germans, to join the pact. But Great Britain did not want to enter into alliances with the participation of the USSR. Bart, citing recent precedent, threatened to negotiate an alliance with Russia without Great Britain and Germany: “In the distant past, Republican France entered into an agreement with Tsarist Russia, although their regimes were very different from each other. Geography, however, determined history, and a Franco-Russian alliance emerged."
By the fall of 1934, it became completely clear that Germany did not intend to participate in the Eastern Pact. On the agenda was the question of concluding a collective security treaty between the USSR, France and its Eastern European allies. The new edition of the Eastern Pact was openly anti-German. But disagreements arose between the participating countries. Poland, which wanted to maintain cooperation with France, did not want to end up in an alliance with the USSR, which unofficially had territorial claims against it. January 26, 1934 Poland concludes a non-aggression pact with Germany, deciding that it is safer to be friends with Germany than with the Soviet Union. Romania’s participation in the pact did not suit the USSR, which openly claimed the return of Bessarabia.
Bartu made great efforts to somehow resolve these problems. In reserve he had the option of the “Balkan Entente” - a union of Yugoslavia, Romania, Greece and Turkey. But all these states, which entered into an alliance with each other, did not want to conclude a pact with the USSR, since they were anti-communist.
On October 9, 1934, King Alexander of Yugoslavia arrived in Paris, having been trying for many years to unite the Serbs, Croats, Slovenes and Macedonians into a single nation. When Bartu, who was meeting Alexander, was riding with him in an open car, a Macedonian terrorist shot at the procession, killing both statesmen.
The new French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval was much less enthusiastic about the fight against Germany than his predecessor. Five years later, France will be defeated by Germany, and Laval will lead a pro-Nazi puppet government. In 1945 he was executed as a collaborator. In 1935, Laval acted by inertia, continuing Barth's policy, constantly looking back at Great Britain, which had a negative attitude towards a military alliance with the USSR. From the USSR side, the French minister was “pressured” by Soviet plenipotentiary Vladimir Potemkin, the future first deputy people's commissar for foreign affairs.
The Eastern Pact project was not implemented. The USSR and France decided to formalize with treaties what was left of it: the USSR-France-Czechoslovakia triangle. Czechoslovakia found itself in a “triangle” as an ally of France - there were feelings of fear towards the USSR in Prague, but it was far away, and Germany posed an immediate threat.
On May 2, 1935, a mutual assistance pact was concluded between the USSR and France, and on May 16, between the USSR and Czechoslovakia. The pacts provided for the three countries to help each other in the event that one of the parties became a victim of aggression. This assistance was to be provided after compliance with the negotiation procedure, in full accordance with the charter of the League of Nations (which once again emphasized the important role of this organization, also called upon to maintain security in Europe).
But Soviet leaders feared that France could provoke a Soviet-German conflict and remain on the sidelines, directing German aggression to the east. The USSR promised assistance to Czechoslovakia only if it was also provided by France. The French side specifically stipulated that the USSR would not receive assistance if the alliance with the USSR contradicted France's obligations towards the USSR's Eastern European neighbors. That is, the alliance was directed exclusively against Germany. The consultation mechanism was also intended to influence decision-making in the League of Nations, that is, to influence Great Britain and Italy.
The pact was supposed to have as its logical continuation the creation of a broader security system. Otherwise, it could come into effect only in the event of a German-Czechoslovak conflict, in the event of a German attack on the territory of Czechoslovakia (there could be no talk of a German attack on France in 1935). But P. Laval and subsequent French leaders were not interested in expanding the system of collective security, so the true test for the pact was the Sudeten crisis of 1938.
Germany insisted on annexing Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland because it was populated predominantly by Germans. This annexation was contrary to international law, which the members of the League of Nations pledged to defend. France chose to refuse to fulfill its allied obligations to Czechoslovakia, which largely predetermined the Munich Agreement of the great powers at its expense. Czechoslovakia, left without the support of France, capitulated, not giving the Soviet Union a reason to intervene in the European conflict. This determined the skeptical position of the USSR at the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations in 1939, when the last chance before the start of the war to create an anti-Hitler coalition with the participation of the USSR was not used. Stalin did not trust France and Great Britain and was considering the possibility of returning to cooperation with Germany. After the conclusion of the German-Soviet Pact on August 23, 1939, the provisions of the Soviet-French Pact of 1935 became hopelessly outdated.
Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and President of the French Republic,
animated by the desire to strengthen the peace of Europe and guarantee its benefit to their countries, by ensuring in a more complete manner the exact application of the provisions of the Charter of the League of Nations aimed at maintaining national security, territorial integrity and political independence of states,
Having decided to devote their efforts to preparing for the conclusion of a European agreement for this purpose, and, pending this, to promote, so far as depends on them, the effective application of the provisions of the Charter of the League of Nations,
decided to conclude an agreement for this purpose and appointed as their representatives:
Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
Vladimir Potemkin, Member of the Central Executive Committee, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the President of the French Republic,
President of the French Republic:
Mr. Pierre Laval, Senator, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
who, after the exchange of their powers, recognized as being in due form and order, agreed on the following resolutions:
Article 1.
In the event that the USSR or France were the subject of a threat or danger of attack from any European state, France and, accordingly, the USSR undertake to mutually enter into immediate consultation with a view to taking measures to comply with the provisions of Article 10 of the League of Nations Statute.
Article 2.
In the event that, under the conditions provided for in Article 15, paragraph 7 of the Statute of the League of Nations, the USSR or France should, despite the sincere peaceful intentions of both countries, be the subject of an unprovoked attack on the part of any European state, France and the USSR will mutually render each other immediate help and support.
Article 3.
Whereas, according to Article 16 of the Statute of the League of Nations, every Member of the League who resorts to war contrary to the obligations assumed in Articles 12, 13, or 15 of the Statute shall thereby be deemed to have committed an act of war against all other Members of the League, the USSR and mutually France undertake, in the event that one of them should, under these conditions, and notwithstanding the sincere peaceful intentions of both countries, be the subject of an unprovoked attack on the part of any European State, to render each other immediate assistance and support, acting in accordance with Article 16 of the statute.
The same obligation is assumed in the event that the USSR or France is the subject of an attack by a European state under the conditions provided for in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Article 17 of the Statute of the League of Nations.
Article 4.
Since the obligations laid down above correspond to the duties of the High Contracting Parties as Members of the League of Nations, nothing in this Treaty will be construed as limiting the task of the latter to take measures capable of effectively protecting the peace of the world, or as limiting the duties arising from the High Contracting Parties. Parties from the statute of the League of Nations.
Article 5.
The present Treaty, of which the Russian and French texts will be of equal force, will be ratified and the instruments of ratification will be exchanged in Moscow as soon as possible. It will be registered with the Secretariat of the League of Nations.
It will enter into force upon the exchange of ratifications and will remain in force for five years. Unless it is denounced by one of the High Contracting Parties with at least one year's notice before the expiration of that period, it shall remain in force indefinitely, each of the High Contracting Parties having the option of terminating it by declaration thereof. one year notice.
In witness whereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed this Treaty and have affixed their seals thereto.
Done in Paris, in duplicate.
PROTOCOL OF SIGNING.
At the time of the signing of the Soviet-French Treaty of Mutual Assistance on this date, the Plenipotentiaries signed the following protocol, which will be included in the exchanged instruments of ratification of the Treaty.
It is established that the effect of Article 3 is the obligation of each Contracting Party to render immediate assistance to the other, conforming without delay to the recommendations of the Council of the League of Nations as soon as they are made by virtue of Article 16 of the statute. It is also agreed that both Contracting Parties will act in agreement so as to ensure that the Council makes its recommendations with all the speed that circumstances require, and that if, despite this, the Council does not, for one reason or another, make any recommendation, and if he does not reach unanimity, the obligation of assistance will nevertheless be fulfilled. It is also agreed that the obligations of assistance provided for in this Treaty apply only to the case of an attack committed on the own territory of one or the other Contracting Party.
Since the general intention of both governments is not to violate in any way, by this Treaty, the obligations previously assumed by the USSR and France in relation to third states, by virtue of published treaties, it is agreed that the provisions of the said Treaty cannot have such application , which, being incompatible with the treaty obligations assumed by one of the Contracting Parties, would subject the latter to sanctions of an international nature.
III.
Both governments, considering it desirable to conclude a regional agreement, the purpose of which would be to organize the security of the contracting states and which, at the same time, could include or be accompanied by obligations of mutual assistance, recognize each other's opportunity, in appropriate cases, to participate, with mutual consent, in the form direct or indirect, as may seem appropriate, in such agreements, and the obligations of these agreements shall replace those arising from this Treaty.
Both Governments state that the negotiations leading to the signing of this Treaty were initially initiated to complement the security agreement covering the countries of north-eastern Europe, namely the USSR, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and the states neighboring the USSR; Along with this agreement, an assistance agreement was to be concluded between the USSR, France and Germany, in which each of these three states was to undertake to provide support to one of them that would be the subject of an attack by one of these three states. Although circumstances have not yet made it possible to conclude these agreements, which both parties continue to consider desirable, nevertheless, the obligations set out in the Soviet-French Assistance Treaty must be understood as having to operate only within the limits that were originally intended. the proposed tripartite agreement. Regardless of the obligations arising from this
of the Treaty, it is recalled that in accordance with the Soviet-French Non-Aggression Pact of November 29, 1932, and without prejudice to the universality of the obligations of this pact, in the event that one of the Parties were attacked by one or more third European powers, not provided for in the above-mentioned triple covenant, the other Contracting Party will be required to refrain during the conflict from direct or indirect assistance or support to the attacker or attackers, each Party declaring that it is not bound by any agreement for assistance that would be in conflict with this obligation .
Done in Paris, in duplicate,
Eastern Europe between Hitler and Stalin. M., 1999.
Malafeev K.A. Louis Barthou. Politician and diplomat. M., 1988.
Politburo of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) - the All-Union Communist Party (b) and Europe. Solutions of the “Special Folder” 1923-1939. M., 2001.
Shubin A.V. The world is on the edge of the abyss. From global depression to world war. 1929-1941. M., 2004.
What were the reasons for the change in Soviet foreign policy in 1933-1934?
What motivated the French Foreign Minister when he supported the USSR's entry into the League of Nations?
Which politicians prepared the Soviet-French treaty?
What is the Eastern Pact? Why didn't it come true?
What provisions of the Soviet-French Pact made it difficult to use it to counter German aggression?
Why couldn't Bartu conclude an agreement with the USSR? Why did Laval conclude it?
What other defense treaty did the USSR conclude in 1935?
When and why was the collective security system that emerged in 1935 destroyed?
Exactly 75 years ago, European powers betrayed Slavic Czechoslovakia, literally feeding it to Hitler. Thus, completing Nazi Germany’s preparations for war against Soviet Russia.
When it comes to the outbreak of the Second World War, the British and Europeans begin to shout loudly that the German Empire and the Soviet Union are equally responsible for its beginning. However, it is worth noting that all such unsightly exclamations are primarily aimed at the modern man in the street who is not interested in the history of past years. Because any unbiased historian knows that the actual beginning of the Second World War was the betrayal of Czechoslovakia by countries such as England, France and partly the USA, which allowed Hitler to take over the country almost unhindered, which could have stopped further developments.
When European parliamentarians talk about the non-aggression pact concluded on August 23, 1939 between the Soviet Union and Germany (also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact), they completely forget about one extremely important fact. The USSR was the last significant European power to sign such a treaty. On the day of the Munich Agreement - September 30, 1938, England signed exactly the same agreement (almost a year before the Soviet-German agreement). On December 6, 1938, France signed the same agreement. Of course, those same “secret protocols” to the Soviet-German non-aggression treaty, according to which the USSR allegedly agreed with Germany to divide part of Europe into zones of influence, are in the original no one has ever seen.
But historical fact is that as a result of the Munich Agreement of 1938, England, France and the USA fed Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany and Poland, not caring about all the previously concluded alliance agreements with it. This served as a signal for the imminent start of World War II. Since the blame for this crime lies entirely with these Western countries, today they are trying in every possible way to “turn the tables” on Russia, engaging in outright falsification of history.
Let's remember how it was.
So, in 1938, about 14 million people lived in Czechoslovakia. Some of them, 3.5 million, were of ethnic German origin. They lived in the Sudetenland.
It is worth noting that at that time Czechoslovakia was one of the most industrialized countries in all of Europe. It was one of the leading suppliers of weapons for export, the country's army was excellently armed, and powerful defensive structures were created in that very Sudeten region.
On September 29-30, 1938, in Munich, with the active support of the United States, a meeting of the heads of government of England and France, Germany and Italy took place. The purpose of the meeting was to decide in absentia on the fate of Czechoslovakia, without the participation of representatives of the authorities of the country itself. Surprisingly cynical, right? It is this betrayal that the EU countries and the USA are trying to cover up today, deliberately shifting the responsibility for inciting the Second World War from a sore head to a healthy one.
Please note that the Czechoslovak authorities have been invited only for the announcement of the results of negotiations. The USSR, which was an ally of Czechoslovakia (as well as France), was not invited at all.
In fact, England and France decided in absentia the fate of the sovereign state of the Slavic people.
Because the Western powers prepared Hitler for his main goal - an attack on the USSR.
G. Wilson, a trusted adviser to British Prime Minister Chamberlain, spoke about this openly:
“Only Bolshevism would profit from this. This must be prevented. It is necessary to recognize the right of the Germans to expand in the Southeast.”
If World War II had begun with a German attack on Czechoslovakia, the Nazis would not have set foot on our soil!
When at the Nuremberg trials General Field Marshal Keitel was asked the question: “Would Germany have attacked Czechoslovakia in 1938 if the Western powers had supported Prague?”, he replied:
"Of course not. We were not strong enough from a military point of view. The goal of Munich(Munich agreement - note by D.B.) was to oust Russia from Europe, gain time and complete the armament of Germany.”
It is worth noting that Hitler’s army was not strong enough at that time - it entered Czechoslovakia with 37 divisions. Against 36 well-armed Czechoslovak divisions with powerful defensive fortifications in the Sudetenland.
By the way, in parallel, Poland laid claim to Czechoslovakian lands and invaded the territory of a sovereign country. This means that today they are increasingly trying to present her as an innocent victim.
As a result, Hitler's army received more than 1 million self-loading rifles, tens of thousands of machine guns and thousands of tanks, which were later used in the war against the Soviet Union. Is this why the British and French prime ministers Chamberlain and Daladier tried so hard to give Czechoslovakia to Hitler to be torn to pieces? Moreover, after the final annexation of Czechoslovakia, the Bank of England returned the gold reserves of this country to Hitler! Which once again proves the meaning of the Munich Agreement.
As a result of the deception and betrayal of Czechoslovakia by England and France, Hitler greatly strengthened his army, which significantly influenced his determination to start a war. It is very likely that if Hitler had entered the war with Czechoslovakia, which had alliance treaties with the USSR and France, the war could have ended there.
Therefore, it is quite obvious why today the countries of the Western world so actively refer to the false “secret agreements” to the Soviet-German non-aggression treaty, which the Soviet Union concluded last, after similar agreements between Germany and England, France, Poland, Estonia and Latvia .
P.S. I believe that in contrast to the lies about the non-existent “secret protocols” to the Soviet-German non-aggression pact, which actually gave us the opportunity to prepare for Hitler’s aggression, we should all tell the truth about the Munich Agreement, which in fact became the main prerequisite for the start of World War II .
We often hear about the bloodthirsty Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. In reality, it turns out that the Pact is not at all bloodthirsty, but logical, verified and justified. But in this note we will not discuss its details.
Let's look at who else entered into agreements with Hitler.
1. 1933 Pact of Four (Italy, Germany, England, France).
The “Pact of Four” was an attempt to oppose the League of Nations to the “directory” of the four great powers, which sought to subjugate all of Europe to their hegemony. Ignoring the Soviet Union, the four powers tried to pursue a policy of isolating it, while at the same time excluding the rest of Europe from participating in European affairs.
The “Pact of Four” meant “a conspiracy of the English and French governments with German and Italian fascism, which even then did not hide its aggressive intentions. At the same time, this pact with the fascist states meant a rejection of the policy of strengthening a united front of peace-loving powers against aggressive states.”
But due to disagreements among the participants and dissatisfaction of other countries, the Pact of Four was never ratified.
2. 1934 Pilsudski-Hitler Pact (Germany, Poland).
Non-aggression pact between Germany and Poland. It was supplemented by an agreement on trade and navigation, and separate agreements on issues of printing, cinema, radio broadcasting, theater, etc.
It was envisaged that the pact would remain in force even in the event of one of the contracting parties entering into war with third states.
3. 1935 Anglo-German maritime agreement.
The British government satisfied Hitler's demand that "the strength of the German navy should be 35% of the total strength of the British Empire." The proportion of 35:100 was to be applied both to the total tonnage of the fleet and to each class of ship.
With regard to submarine forces, Germany received the right to equality with Britain, but pledged not to exceed 45% of the tonnage of British submarine forces. It was envisaged that if this limit was violated, Germany would inform the British government.
Germany also committed itself to complying with the qualitative restrictions established by the Washington Treaty of 1922 and the London Treaty of 1930.
In fact, the Germans were given the opportunity to build 5 battleships, two aircraft carriers, 21 cruisers and 64 destroyers.
The result of the agreement was the final elimination of all restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. In terms of the permitted fleet tonnage, Germany was equal to France and Italy - the victorious powers in the First World War.
4. 1936 Anti-Comirtern Pact (Germany, Japan).
An agreement between Germany and Japan, which formalized (under the banner of the struggle against the Comintern) a bloc of these states in order to gain world domination.
In November 1937, Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact, and later a number of other states.
In 1939-40, the Pact was transformed into an open military alliance (see Berlin Pact).
5. 1938Munich Agreement (England, France, Germany, Italy).
The agreement concerned the transfer of the Sudetenland by Czechoslovakia to Germany.
The meeting in Munich in the Führerbau took place on September 29-30. The basis of the agreement was the proposals of Italy, which were practically no different from the demands put forward earlier by Hitler at his meeting with Chamberlain. Chamberlain and Daladier accepted these proposals.
At one in the morning on September 30, 1938, Chamberlain, Daladier, Mussolini and Hitler signed the Munich Agreement. After this, the Czechoslovak delegation was allowed into the hall where this agreement was signed.
The leadership of Great Britain and France put pressure on the government of Czechoslovakia, and President Benes, without the consent of the National Assembly, accepted this agreement for execution.
5.1. On September 30, a declaration of mutual non-aggression was signed between Great Britain and Germany.
5.2. A similar declaration by Germany and France was signed a little later.
6. 1939 German-Romanian economic treaties and agreements.
The enslaving treaties imposed on monarcho-fascist Romania, which made the Romanian economy dependent on the military needs of fascist Germany.
7. 1939 Treaty on non-aggression of Germany against the Baltic countries.
For Germany, the purpose of the treaty was to prevent Western and Soviet influence in the Baltic states and the encirclement of Germany (a non-aggression treaty with Lithuania had already been concluded in March 1939 after the German ultimatum regarding Klaipeda).
The Baltic states were supposed to serve as a barrier against Soviet intervention in the planned invasion of Poland.
Germany proposed non-aggression treaties with Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden on April 28, 1939.
Sweden, Norway and Finland refused. Draft agreements were ready in early May, but the signing was postponed twice as Latvia requested clarifications.
8. 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (Germany, USSR).
Non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR.
On August 19, 1939, a Soviet-German economic agreement was signed, and on August 23, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The pact provided for a non-aggression pact and obligations to maintain neutrality if one of the parties became the target of military action by a third party.
There is an additional protocol to the agreement on the delimitation of spheres of mutual interests in Eastern Europe in the event of “territorial and political reorganization.” The protocol provided for the inclusion of Latvia, Estonia, Finland, the eastern “regions that are part of the Polish state” and Bessarabia in the sphere of interests of the USSR, Lithuania and western Poland in the sphere of interests of Germany.
Interesting, isn't it?
SOVIET-FRENCH TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS
1) S.-f. 1932 on non-aggression - signed on XI 29 by the USSR Ambassador in Paris V. S. Dovgalevsky and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of France E. Herriot.
France was one of the organizers of the intervention in Soviet Russia; it recognized the Soviet Union later than other great European powers. Locarno Treaties 1925(see), one of the participants of which was France, were directed against the USSR. However, the growth of the economic and political power of the Soviet Union, as well as the activation of revisionist circles in Germany, forced France to temporarily change the traditional anti-Soviet course of its foreign policy.
At the end of 1931, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Briand proposed that the Soviet government begin negotiations on the S.-f. d. They were interrupted in May 1932, after the assassination of French President P. Doumer by the White Guard Gorgulov, but resumed with the coming to power of the government of E. Herriot in France. As a result of these negotiations, the S.-f. was signed. d. 1932.
Both sides pledged not to resort to war against each other under any circumstances (Article I). If one of the contracting parties were attacked by one or more third powers, the other party agreed not to provide support to the attackers (Article II). All previous agreements concluded by both parties before the signing of the S.-f. etc. remained in force (Art. III). The contracting parties agreed not to interfere with the development of trade between both countries (Article IV). Both governments mutually pledged not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other side and not to support or allow on their territory organizations aimed at armed struggle against the other side (Article V). The principle of renouncing war as a means of resolving disputes was confirmed (Article VI).
VII, last, article S.-f. d. determined the procedure for ratifying the treaty. Validity period of the S.-f. d. was not installed. The agreement could be denounced with a year's notice, but not earlier than 2 years from the date of its signing.
Simultaneously with S.-f. d. a convention was concluded that provided for the creation of a conciliation commission of four members (two from each side) to resolve all disputes that could not be settled through normal diplomatic means. The commission's decisions had to be made unanimously.
Exchange of instruments of ratification of the S.-F. and the conciliation convention was carried out in Moscow on 15.2.1933.
The improvement of Franco-Soviet relations, which found its expression in the S.-F. etc., influenced the position of a number of European countries (Poland, Finland, Latvia and Estonia), which in the same 1932 signed non-aggression treaties with the Soviet Union.
2) S.-f. With. 1934 on the mutual interest of both countries in concluding the Eastern Regional Pact - signed on 5. XII M. M. Litvinov and Laval in Geneva.
Thought about conclusion Eastern Pact(see) belonged to the French Foreign Minister Barth, according to whose plan the pact was to be signed by 8 states (USSR, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland). In the event of an attack on one of these countries, the remaining parties to the pact were to immediately provide military assistance to it. France took upon itself the guarantee of the Eastern Pact; she was obliged to take the side of the victim of aggression if any of the participants in the pact failed to fulfill their obligations. At the same time, according to Bartu’s plan, the USSR was supposed to take on a guarantee Locarno Accords 1925(cm.).
Negotiations on the signing of the Eastern Pact were conducted throughout 1934. On 12. IX, a negative response was received from Germany to the proposal to participate in the pact. Poland followed Germany's example a few days later. The Baltic states did not give a definite answer, and Finland did not respond at all to the proposal of the USSR and France. Only Czechoslovakia joined the Eastern Pact project.
9. X 1934 Barthou was killed in Marseille, and Laval received the portfolio of Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was an opponent of the Eastern Pact and put forward a draft triple guarantee treaty for France, Germany and Poland, directed against the USSR. Nevertheless, Soviet diplomacy, pursuing its consistent peace policy, proposed signing the S.F. With. Since French public opinion persistently demanded that Laval continue the foreign policy of his predecessor and conclude the Eastern Pact, Laval was forced to agree to the proposal of the Soviet government.
S.-f. With. included the obligation of both parties not to enter into negotiations with the proposed participants in the Eastern Pact that “would have the purpose of concluding multilateral or bilateral agreements that could prejudice the preparation and conclusion of the Eastern Regional Pact” (clause I). The parties stated the common determination of both governments to achieve the conclusion of the Eastern Pact.
9. XII to S.-f. With. Czechoslovakia joined.
However, due to opposition from Germany and Laval’s subversive policies, the plans for the Eastern Pact were not implemented, and the S.-F. With. was not implemented.
3) S.-f. d. 1935 on mutual assistance - signed by the 2.5th Plenipotentiary Representative of the USSR Potemkin and Laval in Paris.
Due to the failure of the Eastern Regional Pact project and in the context of growing German aggression (on March 16, 1935, the Nazi government issued a law introducing universal conscription), the USSR and France decided to conclude a bilateral agreement on mutual assistance.
Laval went to sign the S.-f. d. under pressure from the democratic public of France and based on foreign policy calculations, in which main role played by the desire to increase the relative weight of France during future negotiations with Germany.
Art. I S.-f. d. established that in the event of a danger of an attack by any European state on one of the contracting parties, France and the USSR would begin immediate consultations. The most important article of the agreement was Art. II, obliging both sides to provide immediate assistance and support to one of them that would be the object of an unprovoked attack by a third European power. Art. III and IV established that S.-f. d. corresponds to the Charter of the League of Nations, and Art. V determined the procedure for ratification and extension of the Constitution. d., which was concluded for 5 years. Simultaneously with S.-f. e. a protocol was signed, clarifying the provisions of the treaty, the procedure for providing mutual assistance (regardless of the recommendations of the League of Nations) and maintaining in force the obligations previously assumed by both countries. The protocol also indicated that both governments consider it desirable to conclude a regional agreement on mutual assistance, which should replace the S.-f. d.
The Soviet government believed that S.-f. d. "is a known obstacle to the enemies of the world" (I.V. Stalin), and has repeatedly confirmed its fidelity to the obligations arising from the agreement. 19. III 1936 V. M. Molotov, in a conversation with the editor-in-chief of the French newspaper Tan, said that in the event of an attack on France, she would be provided with all the assistance provided for by the S.-f. d.
The value of S.-f. was assessed differently. d. French diplomacy. Laval delayed the ratification of the Socialist f. etc. and interfered with negotiations between the Soviet and French general staffs. French Ambassador in Berlin, François Poncet, on behalf of Laval, assured Hitler that France was ready to sacrifice S.-f. etc., if necessary for an agreement with Germany.
Ratification of the Socialist f. d. France took place only on 27.2.1936, after Laval resigned. Only in the spring of 1939, after the occupation of Czechoslovakia by German troops, did the French government agree to begin negotiations on practical measures to provide mutual assistance in the event of war. The British government also took part in the negotiations. However, the reactionary circles in power in France and England did not want an effective agreement with the Soviet Union and disrupted the negotiations (see. Moscow negotiations 1939).
S.-f. d. has lost its meaning since that time.
4) S.-f. 1944 on alliance and mutual assistance - signed on XII 10th in Moscow by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs V. M. Molotov and J. Bidault.
During the Second World War, the Soviet government supported the Free French movement, which fought against Nazi Germany. As soon as French territory was liberated, the Soviet government recognized the provisional government of France (23. X 1944) and exchanged ambassadors with it. In December 1944, the head of the provisional government, Gen. de Gaulle arrived, accompanied by Foreign Minister J. Bidault, in Moscow, where, as a result of negotiations with the leaders of the Soviet government, the Statute of Law was signed. d.
Art. 1 and 2 of the treaty established the obligation of both parties to continue the fight until the final victory over Germany, not to enter into separate negotiations with it and not to conclude an armistice or peace with the Hitlerite government without mutual consent. In accordance with Art. 3 S.-f. d. both sides pledged, even after the end of the Second World War, to “take all necessary measures to eliminate any new threat emanating from Germany and to prevent such actions that would make possible any new attempt at aggression on its part.” Art. 4 provided that in the event that one of the parties becomes involved in hostilities with Germany (as a result of German aggression or in connection with the application of Article 3 of the Federal Law), the other party “will immediately provide it with all assistance and support who will be within her power."
The parties also agreed not to enter into any alliance or take part in any coalition directed against one of them (Article 5). The treaty also provided for the provision of mutual economic assistance after the war in order to speed up the recovery of both countries (Article 6). In Art. 7 it is indicated that S.-f. d. does not affect the obligations previously assumed by both parties in relation to third powers. The procedure for ratification is determined by Art. 8. The same article establishes the minimum duration of the agreement (20 years), the procedure for denunciation and termination of the agreement. Unless the contract is denounced by one of the parties one year before the expiration of the 20-year period, it remains in force indefinitely, and either party may terminate it by giving one year's notice. S.-f. was ratified by the French government on December 22 and by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on December 25, 1944; The exchange of instruments of ratification took place in Paris on 15.2.1945.
Soon after the end of the Second World War, French diplomacy began to participate in all plans dictated from Washington and hostile to the Soviet Union. Damaging the fundamental national interests of France, the French ruling circles took an active part in formalizing the split of Germany and in restoring the military potential of West Germany, in the creation of the “Western bloc” and North Atlantic Alliance(see), directed against the USSR and people's democracies. Thus, France violated the spirit and letter of the S.-f. d.
Diplomatic Dictionary. - M.: State Publishing House of Political Literature. A. Ya. Vyshinsky, S. A. Lozovsky. 1948 .
See what "SOVIET-FRENCH TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS" are in other dictionaries:
The Non-Aggression Pact between the USSR and France of 1932 was signed on November 29. in Paris by the USSR Plenipotentiary Representative in France V. S. Dovgalevsky and before. Council of Ministers and Min. foreign Affairs of France E. Herriot. The USSR and France pledged not to resort to war against each other... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia
It is not uncommon to hear about the bloodthirsty Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. In reality, it turns out that the Pact is not at all bloodthirsty, but logical, verified and justified. But in this note we will not discuss its details.
Let's look at who else entered into agreements with Hitler.
1. 1933 Pact of Four (Italy, Germany, England, France).
The “Pact of Four” was an attempt to oppose the League of Nations to the “directory” of the four great powers, which sought to subjugate all of Europe to their hegemony. Ignoring the Soviet Union, the four powers tried to pursue a policy of isolating it, while at the same time excluding the rest of Europe from participating in European affairs.
The “Pact of Four” meant “a conspiracy of the English and French governments with German and Italian fascism, which even then did not hide its aggressive intentions. At the same time, this pact with the fascist states meant a rejection of the policy of strengthening a united front of peace-loving powers against aggressive states.”
But due to disagreements among the participants and dissatisfaction of other countries, the Pact of Four was never ratified.
2. 1934 Pilsudski-Hitler Pact (Germany, Poland).
Non-aggression pact between Germany and Poland. It was supplemented by an agreement on trade and navigation, and separate agreements on issues of printing, cinema, radio broadcasting, theater, etc.
It was envisaged that the pact would remain in force in the event of one of the contracting parties entering into war with third states.
3. 1935 Anglo-German maritime agreement.
The British government satisfied Hitler's demand that "the strength of the German navy should be 35% of the total strength of the British Empire." The proportion of 35:100 was to be applied both to the total tonnage of the fleet and to each class of ship.
With regard to submarine forces, Germany received the right to equality with Britain, but pledged not to exceed 45% of the tonnage of British submarine forces. It was envisaged that if this limit was violated, Germany would inform the British government.
Germany also committed itself to complying with the qualitative restrictions established by the Washington Treaty of 1922 and the London Treaty of 1930.
In fact, the Germans were given the opportunity to build 5 battleships, two aircraft carriers, 21 cruisers and 64 destroyers.
The result of the agreement was the final elimination of all restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. In terms of the permitted fleet tonnage, Germany was equal to France and Italy - the victorious powers in the First World War.
4. 1936 Anti-Comirtern Pact (Germany, Japan).
An agreement between Germany and Japan, which formalized (under the banner of the struggle against the Comintern) a bloc of these states in order to gain world domination.
In November 1937, Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact, and later a number of other states.
In 1939-40, the Pact was transformed into an open military alliance (see Berlin Pact).
5. 1938 Munich Agreement (England, France, Germany, Italy).
The agreement concerned the transfer of the Sudetenland by Czechoslovakia to Germany.
The meeting in Munich in the Führerbau took place on September 29-30. The basis of the agreement was the proposals of Italy, which were practically no different from the demands put forward earlier by Hitler at his meeting with Chamberlain. Chamberlain and Daladier accepted these proposals.
At one in the morning on September 30, 1938, Chamberlain, Daladier, Mussolini and Hitler signed the Munich Agreement. After this, the Czechoslovak delegation was allowed into the hall where this agreement was signed.
The leadership of Great Britain and France put pressure on the government of Czechoslovakia, and President Benes, without the consent of the National Assembly, accepted this agreement for execution.
5.1. On September 30, a declaration of mutual non-aggression was signed between Great Britain and Germany.
5.2. A similar declaration by Germany and France was signed a little later.
6. 1939 German-Romanian economic treaties and agreements.
The enslaving treaties imposed on monarcho-fascist Romania, which made the Romanian economy dependent on the military needs of fascist Germany.
7. 1939 Treaty on non-aggression of Germany against the Baltic countries.
For Germany, the purpose of the treaty was to prevent Western and Soviet influence in the Baltic states and the encirclement of Germany (a non-aggression treaty with Lithuania had already been concluded in March 1939 after the German ultimatum regarding Klaipeda).
The Baltic states were supposed to serve as a barrier against Soviet intervention in the planned invasion of Poland.
Germany proposed non-aggression treaties with Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden on April 28, 1939.
Sweden, Norway and Finland refused. Draft agreements were ready in early May, but the signing was postponed twice as Latvia requested clarifications.
8. 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (Germany, USSR).
Non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR.
On August 19, 1939, a Soviet-German economic agreement was signed, and on August 23, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The pact provided for a non-aggression pact and obligations to maintain neutrality if one of the parties became the target of military action by a third party.
There is an additional protocol to the agreement on the delimitation of spheres of mutual interests in Eastern Europe in the event of “territorial and political reorganization.” The protocol provided for the inclusion of Latvia, Estonia, Finland, the eastern “regions that are part of the Polish state” and Bessarabia in the sphere of interests of the USSR, Lithuania and western Poland in the sphere of interests of Germany.
Interesting, isn't it?
What, again Stalin is to blame for everything?!
