Relations between the USSR, Britain and France

What was the USSR's relationship like with Britain and France?

Stalin did not trust Britain and France even though it made more sense for him to seek an alliance with these nations given the hostility of Germany and Hitler towards the USSR and communism.

Why did the USSR not trust Britain and France?

By 1939 Stalin was suspicious of Britain and France for 7 key reasons:

• ❖ Britain and France were leading figures in the League of Nations and Stalin had lost confidence in its ability to stop Hitler against Russia. This was because of its failures in the Manchuria, and Abyssinia crises and during the reoccupation of the Rhineland.
• ❖ France did sign an agreement in 1934 agreeing to protect the USSR from Germany. But when Hitler marched his troops into the Rhineland in 1936 France didn't act. Stalin felt that if France wouldn't deal with aggression on their own back garden why would they help Russia?
• ❖ In 1935 Britain signed the Anglo-German naval agreement which allowed Hitler to rebuild the German navy - this worried Stalin.
• ❖ The policy of appeasement followed by Britain and France allowed Germany to rearm. Britain and France thought that a strong Germany could stop the spread of communism. The lack of trust was mutual between the nations.
• ❖ Lord Halifax the British foreign minister and Neville Chamberlain both despised communism.
• ❖ Britain and France did not even invite Stalin to the Munich conference in 1938 let alone consult him. Stalin was now convinced that they were not allies of the USSR.
• ❖ When Britain decided it needed the USSR as an ally against Germany in April 1939 they decided to go to Russia to build relations. But a number of things suggested to Stalin they didn't see this meeting as important. The British sent a diplomat Reginald Drax who had no authority to make decisions, he travelled by boat which was slow and he even questioned the power of Russia's military.

What was the significance of the USSR's relationship with Britain and France?

The lack of trust between these nations was significant as it pushed Russia towards relations with Germany and ultimately they signed the Nazi-Soviet pact which was a trigger for the Second World War.