The Interim treaty between the RSFSR and Czechoslovakia: on the 100th anniversary of signing

Abstract

The article is devoted to establishing contacts of Soviet Russia and Czechoslovakia. It also deals with the signing of the first treaty between the countries on June 5, 1922. The centenary of the document and the complicated Russian-Czech relations in recent years determine the relevance of addressing these subjects. The aim of the article is on the basis of documents found in the Russian Foreign Policy Archive (the correspondence of the Soviet representatives in Prague S. I. Gillerson and P. N. Mostovenko with the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs V. G. Chicherin and his deputy M. M. Litvinov), as well as on published materials on the history of Soviet-Czechoslovak relations, to explain the contradictions that existed between the parties and to show ways of overcoming them. Based on the latest research by Russian and Czech historians, the author analyses the international situation of that time, the terms of the agreement, draws attention to the fact that the agreement was not ratified by the Parliament of the Czechoslovak Republic, but came into effect by a government decree. It is concluded that the strategic goal of the Soviet foreign policy to achieve a de jure recognition was not implemented at that time. However, the Interim Treaty meant a de facto recognition of the RSFSR and created conditions for the development of trade and economic cooperation.