Stalin and Foreign policy Flashcards
What was Russia’s early foreign policy?
Russia wanted to resume trade with capitalist countries e.g. for importing modern machines
Restore relations with Russia’s immediate relations e.g. Estonia and Latvia
What was Treaty of Riga?
Settled border dispute between Russia and Poland
What was Genoa Conference 1932?
Where Western powers offered credit and loan to Russia if they settled their Tsarist debts but Chicherin refused
What was Russia’s later policy?
Wanted collective security- joining together with other nations for safety in numbers (guarantee safety from Germany)
What was Litinov Protocol?
Non aggressive pacts with France, Poland, Finland, Italy and Czechoslovakia
Why would foreign powers not trust Stalin?
Due to his actions in the Comintern
What was the status of the Comintern in 1924-29?
Low priority for Stalin
What was Stalin’s main foreign policy aim?
Socialism in one country
As time went on what happened to status of comintern?
It became more valued
Loyal men ran comintern
There was strict discipline
The illusion about the comintern being a brotherhood was dropped
What did Stalin decide at Sixth Comintern Congress 1928?
World Capital facing crisis so the time was right for an attack on anti-communist social democratic parties in Europe
What was the first breakthrough for relations between Germany and Russia?
The treaty of Rapallo 1922
What was the treaty of Berlin?
An adaptation of Rapallo to a new political situation
Aims of treaty of Berlin 1926?
Basis for friendly agreement
If one country was attacked the other would remain neutral
Joint promise not to join economic boycott
Would last 5 years
What was Treaty of Berlin described as?
“Trustful co-operation” and “promoting peace”
What were Russia’s relations like with France?
Soured by refusal to pay debts but were restored by a 1932 non aggression pact
What were Russia’s relations like with Britain?
In 1921 relations improved with a trade treaty
Relations remained fractured as B remained suspicious of R intentions
Conflict over Z letter= Red Scare= loss of Labour in re-elections
What were Russian comintern agents accused of during a general strike?
Being involved in subservise activities and in May 1927 police raied Russian offices “Arcos” and found subservise materials
Why did Russia become suspicious of Britain?
Mindful of B long term intentions when Anglo-German Treaty signed
What was Locarno treaty?
Russian agreements with Germany to ensure post war settlement that would not be altered by force
Economic benefit of Treaty of Berlin?
USSR received large financial credits from German banks
