Anglo-Soviet Relations 1920-1940

Created by: Hannah
Created on: 23-05-15 11:52


	Anglo-Soviet Relations 1920-1940
	Advantages Russo-Polish war from 1920-1921: Poland tried to regain Ukraine from Russia. The Red Army fought back and nearly captured Warsaw. Britain was going to help, however the Left hinder it by the London dockers refusing to carry ammunition purchased by Poland. The Left thought about supports a general strike of Hands off Soviet Russia. In the end, France sent support so British intervention not needed. Between 1919-1920- MacDonald wanted to place Russia back into commercial relationship as this would be better than armed intervention, but the Conservatives were suspicious of the intention and Lenin believed that other European countries would follow Russia's example. New Economic Policy (1921): Russia's realized that they needed normalize relations with other nations with Britain as a way of improving Russia economically. In March 1921, the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement was signed. This consisted of agreeing not to pursue hostile anti-propaganda against each other. Russia acknowledge the private citizens in Britain who had not been paid back for the goods supplied to Russia during the War. However, Britain didn't recognize Lenin's government. World Economic Conference (Geneva, 1922): Lloyd George wanted to bring the USSR back into international trade and had talks with Soviet delegations, but little process of refusal to pay compensation for Western investors in Russia. Labour government which came in 1924 established full relations with the USSR and a new trade agreement which would provide a market for Britain. If the Western investors were compensated, Britain would give the USSR a 30 million pound loan. Many Conservatives were wary of this act of rapprochement. The Liberal removed the minority from government and the general election. Labour was accused of being susceptible to communist pressure. In 1930, Labour came back into power and restored diplomatic relations and trade links with the USSR again, but couldn't reach an agreement to pay off War Debts and the possibility of a British loan. Stalin had recently come into power so more concerned with the economic development of Russia rather than improve diplomatic relations with Britian. MacDonald wanted the USSR to stay in the periphery of Europe. USSR joined the League of Nations, September 1934 and became supporters of collective security. Signed a defence pact with France and Czechoslovakia and talks between Britain.	Disadvantages November 1917: The Bolshevik revolution. The Left were sympathetic to communism, but the public was hostile as with the Treaty of Brest Litvok this meant that the German troops were now concentrated to the Western Front. The Russian government had now nationalised foreign enterpriseand refused to pay for the War debts. British intervention in the Russian Civil War: Britain provided the White Army with 30,00 troops which landed at Murmansk and Archangel to ensure the supplies didn't fall into the hands of the Red Army. Churchill and the whole of the Cabinet Ministers fully supported, but Lloyd George believed that Russia should deal with its own internal crisis. Commitees set up by Lenin in other countries such as Hungary, Germany, Poland and Beluarira to encourage communism between 1919-1920 Russia in 1919-1920 were encouraging anti-British feeling in India, Iran and Afghanistan. 1922- Lord Curzon didn't want economic co-operation with the USSR and wanted an end to trade agreement as Russia was continuing to conduct anti-British propaganda. The Treaty of Rapallo between Germany and the USSR in 1922 renounced the terms of the Treaty of Brest Litvok and allowed Germany to produce and develop new weapons for the USSR which had been banned. USSR recieved useful German technical expertise, but still regarded one another with suspiscion. Zinioev Letter: 25th October 1924, the Daily Mail published supposed letter from Gregor Zinioev, the head of the Comitern which urged the British communist Party to work for an Anglo-Soviet agreement and encourage civil unrest within Britain. Labour was accused of being weak against Soviet pressure, however, the Labour name was still in tatters as the Conservatives had successfully tarnished their name. The Conservatives didn't want to recognize the Lenin Government. General Strike of 1926: Large USSR donations to the Miners federation led to angry protest by the British Cabinet. Baldwin didn't ratify the Anglo-Soviet agreement. Arcos Affairs(1927): Arcos stood for the All Russia Co-operation society where all of the Anglo-Soviet trade was conducted. A raid was conducted by Baldwin which accused the USSR of using Arcos as a way to encourage communist revolution within the British Empire, North and South America. Baldwin used this to break off trade relations. In early 1930's, the government was dominated by Conservatives who didn't want a agreement or recognise the USSR. it was considered to be a bigger threat than facism, After 1935, the USSR did nothing to strengthen their back with France as the USSR had their own internal problems. and France didn't want to anger Britain. In 1936, USSR gave support to the Republicans despite the non-aggression and some preferred an agreement with Germany rather than Russia. Both Baldwin and Chamberlain believed that the USSR was a threat as they wanted a war against Germany and Italy as it would benefit Germany. The USSR in 1938 called for an international conference after Anschluss . but was ignored. Soviet approached Britain and France about Czechoslovkia, but was ignored again and not invited to the Munich Conference. British and French Military Mission: traveled by boat and train compared to Munich where it was by plane. British diplomats instructed to go slow. French diplomats instructed to secure the signing of a military contract in the minimum time. it failed because western powers didn't trust the Soviets general staff with precise military plans so discussed general principles. The Polish who was suspicious of Soviet intention so didn't want Soviet troops in Poland which Chamberlain was sympathetic too.
	Evaluation The failure of the British to establish closer ties with the USSR disadvantage Britain during the 1930's. The lack of Anglo-Soviet relations meant that relations between the USSR and Germany were able to develop into the Nazi-Soviet pact signed in 1939. Chamberlain was partly to blame for this because Chamberlain hadn't been enthusiastic to develop relations with them anyway them and admitted in private that he didn't mind if they broke down. Chamberlain just used the British and French military mission in mid-August of 1938 to placate the public which 84% believed in having an alliance with the USSR. Chamberlain policy allowed the USSR wiggle room for Stalin to pick his alliance with either the West or Germany. The British negotiation generally refused the Soviets proposals and didn't want to discuss military plans with a potential ally. Halifax was invited to Moscow, but declined which was a huge insult to the Soviets. However Chamberlain can't entirely be blamed as it was going to be impossible that Poland was going to allow Soviet troops on their soil. Even Stalin didn't want a close tie with the West as they didn't off him anything, but war which the Soviets would be fighting the majority of it,

Anglo-Soviet Relations 1920-1940

Advantages

Russo-Polish war from 1920-1921: Poland tried to regain Ukraine from Russia. The Red Army fought back and nearly captured Warsaw. Britain was going to help, however the Left hinder it by the London dockers refusing to carry ammunition purchased by Poland. The Left thought about supports a general strike of Hands off Soviet Russia. In the end, France sent support so British intervention not needed.
Between 1919-1920- MacDonald wanted to place Russia back into commercial relationship as this would be better than armed intervention, but the Conservatives were suspicious of the intention and Lenin believed that other European countries would follow Russia's example.
New Economic Policy (1921): Russia's realized that they needed normalize relations with other nations with Britain as a way of improving Russia economically. In March 1921, the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement was signed. This consisted of agreeing not to pursue hostile anti-propaganda against each other. Russia acknowledge the private citizens in Britain who had not been paid back for the goods supplied to Russia during the War. However, Britain didn't recognize Lenin's government.
World Economic Conference (Geneva, 1922): Lloyd George wanted to bring the USSR back into international trade and had talks with Soviet delegations, but little process of refusal to pay compensation for Western investors in Russia.
Labour government which came in 1924 established full relations with the USSR and a new trade agreement which would provide a market for Britain. If the Western investors were compensated, Britain would give the USSR a 30 million pound loan. Many Conservatives were wary of this act of rapprochement. The Liberal removed the minority from government and the general election. Labour was accused of being susceptible to communist pressure.
In 1930, Labour came back into power and restored diplomatic relations and trade links with the USSR again, but couldn't reach an agreement to pay off War Debts and the possibility of a British loan. Stalin had recently come into power so more concerned with the economic development of Russia rather than improve diplomatic relations with Britian. MacDonald wanted the USSR to stay in the periphery of Europe.
USSR joined the League of Nations, September 1934 and became supporters of collective security. Signed a defence pact with France and Czechoslovakia and talks between Britain.

Disadvantages

November 1917: The Bolshevik revolution. The Left were sympathetic to communism, but the public was hostile as with the Treaty of Brest Litvok this meant that the German troops were now concentrated to the Western Front. The Russian government had now nationalised foreign enterpriseand refused to pay for the War debts.
British intervention in the Russian Civil War: Britain provided the White Army with 30,00 troops which landed at Murmansk and Archangel to ensure the supplies didn't fall into the hands of the Red Army. Churchill and the whole of the Cabinet Ministers fully supported, but Lloyd George believed that Russia should deal with its own internal crisis.
Commitees set up by Lenin in other countries such as Hungary, Germany, Poland and Beluarira to encourage communism between 1919-1920
Russia in 1919-1920 were encouraging anti-British feeling in India, Iran and Afghanistan.
1922- Lord Curzon didn't want economic co-operation with the USSR and wanted an end to trade agreement as Russia was continuing to conduct anti-British propaganda.
The Treaty of Rapallo between Germany and the USSR in 1922 renounced the terms of the Treaty of Brest Litvok and allowed Germany to produce and develop new weapons for the USSR which had been banned. USSR recieved useful German technical expertise, but still regarded one another with suspiscion.
Zinioev Letter: 25th October 1924, the Daily Mail published supposed letter from Gregor Zinioev, the head of the Comitern which urged the British communist Party to work for an Anglo-Soviet agreement and encourage civil unrest within Britain. Labour was accused of being weak against Soviet pressure, however, the Labour name was still in tatters as the Conservatives had successfully tarnished their name. The Conservatives didn't want to recognize the Lenin Government.
General Strike of 1926: Large USSR donations to the Miners federation led to angry protest by the British Cabinet. Baldwin didn't ratify the Anglo-Soviet agreement.
Arcos Affairs(1927): Arcos stood for the All Russia Co-operation society where all of the Anglo-Soviet trade was conducted. A raid was conducted by Baldwin which accused the USSR of using Arcos as a way to encourage communist revolution within the British Empire, North and South America. Baldwin used this to break off trade relations.
In early 1930's, the government was dominated by Conservatives who didn't want a agreement or recognise the USSR. it was considered to be a bigger threat than facism,
After 1935, the USSR did nothing to strengthen their back with France as the USSR had their own internal problems. and France didn't want to anger Britain.
In 1936, USSR gave support to the Republicans despite the non-aggression and some preferred an agreement with Germany rather than Russia.
Both Baldwin and Chamberlain believed that the USSR was a threat as they wanted a war against Germany and Italy as it would benefit Germany.
The USSR in 1938 called for an international conference after Anschluss . but was ignored. Soviet approached Britain and France about Czechoslovkia, but was ignored again and not invited to the Munich Conference.
British and French Military Mission: traveled by boat and train compared to Munich where it was by plane. British diplomats instructed to go slow. French diplomats instructed to secure the signing of a military contract in the minimum time. it failed because western powers didn't trust the Soviets general staff with precise military plans so discussed general principles. The Polish who was suspicious of Soviet intention so didn't want Soviet troops in Poland which Chamberlain was sympathetic too.

Evaluation

The failure of the British to establish closer ties with the USSR disadvantage Britain during the 1930's. The lack of Anglo-Soviet relations meant that relations between the USSR and Germany were able to develop into the Nazi-Soviet pact signed in 1939. Chamberlain was partly to blame for this because Chamberlain hadn't been enthusiastic to develop relations with them anyway them and admitted in private that he didn't mind if they broke down. Chamberlain just used the British and French military mission in mid-August of 1938 to placate the public which 84% believed in having an alliance with the USSR. Chamberlain policy allowed the USSR wiggle room for Stalin to pick his alliance with either the West or Germany. The British negotiation generally refused the Soviets proposals and didn't want to discuss military plans with a potential ally. Halifax was invited to Moscow, but declined which was a huge insult to the Soviets. However Chamberlain can't entirely be blamed as it was going to be impossible that Poland was going to allow Soviet troops on their soil. Even Stalin didn't want a close tie with the West as they didn't off him anything, but war which the Soviets would be fighting the majority of it,

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Anglo-Soviet Relations 1920-1940