Abstract:
The seizure of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 created a new political
situation in Europe. The negotiations began between Great Britain, France,
and the Soviet Union. In a few months, they ended in failure for which the
parties blamed each other. The Soviets stated that the French and especially
British delegations lacked the credentials to sign the agreement. The
British argued that the Soviets were insincere and while conducting the
talks with the British and French, they were also negotiating with the Germans.
There also were the Soviet demands regarding the Baltic States and
transferring the troops to Poland and Romania, which were unacceptable
for other parties. Recently, there evolved a viewpoint among the Western
scholars that the Soviet Union wanted to create the system of the so-called
“Collective Security” and that the talks failed because of the anti-Communism
of Nevil Chamberlain and Édouard Daladier and their lack of trust in
the sincerity of the Soviets. Of course, these scholars correctly evaluate the
views and attitudes of the British and French Prime Ministers, but they are
erroneous regarding the true aims of the Soviet Union. The correct analysis
of all existing sources shows that the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had his
own goals and would sign an agreement only with that side who would
meet all his demands. Thus, the system of the so-called “Collective Security”
was just Soviet propaganda and Stalin was not interested in it. The
alliance with Germany was much more suitable with his plans to Sovietize
the whole world. This can be seen in his speech made before the Politburo
of the Central Committee of the CPSU on 19 August 1939. It was followed
by the termination of talks with the British and French delegations on 20
August 1939 and the signing of the pact with Germany on 23 August 1939.
