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Summary A* essay on Bolshevik foreign relations success
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To what extent were the Bolsheviks successful in establishing friendly relations withforeign powers 1917- 1924? (25 marks)
Introduction: Between 1917 and 1924 was an era of
change in compromise for Soviet diplomacy as the
imperatives of Soviet Foreign Relations were realigned
from revolution towards the pursuit of stable diplomatic
relations. Therefore, the halfway house of attempting to
achieve and spread communism whilst also maintaining
secure Foreign Relations was muddled and had limited
success.
Paragraph one: Comintern Paragraph two: British relations
Comintern created a hostile environment against Western Cominterm also clearly damaged diplomatic relationships
countries- its ultimate goal was to spread communism and with Britain: in 1923 the British foreign secretary, Curzon,
was subsequently and immediately threatening to many was infuriated by the activities of Soviet agents in Persia,
countries. Churchill (chancellor of the exchequer in 1924) Afghanistan and India. He threatened to cancel the Anglo-
declared “from the earliest moment of its birth The Soviet trade agreement of 1921 unless they abandoned
Russian Bolshevik government has declared its intention these activities. They ultimately agreed to the Curzon
of eating all the power of the Russian empire to promote ultimatum in which the Soviet government was forced to
world revolution” Communism was an alien an unwanted apologise to Britain for improper actions- Lenin was forced
ideological concept for many Britons so Comintern to dictate his foreign policy and alter it to the likes of
exasperated and hindered foreign relations. The second powerful western states by abandoning his ideological
Comintern conference was based around 21 conditions Marxist teachings. here friendly relationships were not
drawn up to bring foreign communist parties under established but rather agreements to ensure the survival
Comintern control including Leninist principles of of Soviet state hanging by a thread.
centralization and discipline- these policies had a In 1924 the Zinoviev letter from Comintern To the British
detrimental impact. They made the national security of Communist Party instructed them to conduct propaganda
the USSR the top priority for all parties, but this reduced in the armed forces an elsewhere- it was published before
its appeal and thus party membership with the European the British general election and showed the fear of
influence declined. They ruined the chance of stable and communism, as although forged, it turned the British
diplomatic relations with The European countries because public against the Labour Party disintegrating friendly
of the threatening language and aggressive ideology with relations. The new Conservative government suspended
providing financial support. all dealings with the Soviets.
The Treaty of Riga resulted in a Polish victory- hopes Repercussions of the Zinoviev letter affected and hindered
Poland would be a springboard for communism to sweep diplomatic relations between Britain and the Soviet
Western Europe were dashed. Here Cominterm’s clear Union- Russia’s isolation strengthened.
failure caused a loss of faith in the USSR, further damaging
relations. Another realisation that world revolution was
not as close as it had been hoped for was coming to terms
support of a German revolution which ultimately failed
and was crushed. Again, Comintern was a clear and abject
failure- so much so that Foreign Relations and optimism
was so damaged that Bolshevik leadership started to
downplay international revolution in order to concentrate
on Russian matters. the establishment of Foreign
Relations was a failure and even resulted in more Russian
independency and isolation.
Paragraph three: aftermath of WW1 isolation Paragraph four: German relations
Due to Russia exiting WW1 early, she was seen as the The only minimal success was establishing relations with
enabler of the mass transfer of German forces. The Treaty Germany. The Treaty of Rapallo (1922). Created a mutual
of Brest Litovsk was seen as a betrayal to the allies. goodwill in commercial and economic relations. Articles one
Despite major Russian involvement and aids with the allies and two agreed to refrain from compensation after WW1 and
at the start of World War One the treaty damaged all a secret clause of the treaty authorised German army to carry
friendly relations and concluded that Russia was no longer out military training inside the USSR. the treaty Accomplished
the first international recognition that the Bolsheviks were
one of the opposers of the Axis powers. By helping and
leaders. Moreover, some historians argue Russia and
therefore supporting Germany, Russia impaired its former
Germany were ‘natural’ allies during the 1920s and 30s due
friendly relations resulting in isolation. Consequently, to both being outcasts and therefore vulnerable (Russia due
Russia was banned from the League of Nations further to communist ideology and Germany for the war). Therefore,
proving the former ties with Foreign Relations were the treaty was necessary to fill the void of isolation and was
severed. central to Soviet Union security as an evolving communist
country. Whilst Germany could secretly increase their military
force, Russia was receiving expertise of German industrialists
to modernise Russia and so the Treaty of Rapallo was
successful in developing a strong, secure and dependent
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