<<The>> Bolsheviks and Britain during the Russian Revolution and Civil War, 1917-24

third-party websites referred to or in this book. All internet addresses given in this book were correct at the time of going to press. The author and publisher regret any inconvenience caused if addresses have changed or sites have ceased to exist, but can accept no responsibility for any such changes. 'easy living' , but without enough portion of self-discipline in the fulfilment of whims. 109 Some eyewitnesses argued that he had Russian qualities and spoke the language of Alexander Pushkin almost 'without English accent' . 110 On 15 February 1918, the British emissary briefly met Trotsky for the first time, following the latter's return to Petrograd from Brest-Litovsk. The People's commissar assured Lockhart that the Germans were unlikely to restart their offensive. In case they would, Trotsky promised the resumption of armed resistance, especially with the Entente's military support. 111 At first it seemed that Lockhart's telegrams to London were welcomed by Balfour and, more importantly, by Lloyd George himself. On 21 February, the foreign secretary informed the young diplomat that even though any British action in conjugation with the Bolsheviks was predicated on purely pragmatic calculations, so far as they were opposing common enemies or at least not allying with them, the Bolshevik's policy might correspond with Britain's interests. 112 Unfortunately, Lockhart's recurrent appeals to the Foreign Office met no favourable response from Whitehall top officials. Moreover, there were politicians and generals who regarded his 'flirtation' with the Bolsheviks as immoral, conducting by 'a fool or a traitor deserving of gallows' . 113 It is small wonder that Lindley complained to London that Lockhart treated Trotsky 'as if he were a Bismarck or a Talleyrand' , while another official urged Balfour 'to recall this impudent young man ' . 114 "This book analyses the principal aspects of the relations between Soviet Russia (USSR) and Britain in the crucial phase of their formation, namely the period from 1918 to 1924. Using previously unavailable and largely unknown archival records and memoirs published by statesmen, diplomats and military commanders directly involved in the events, Evgeny Sergeev not only reconstructs the dynamics of the interaction between Moscow and London, but also strips its key episodes of common myths and stereotypes. The most debatable issues, to which this study draws its primary attention, include Britain's role in the Entente armed intervention against the Bolshevik regime as well as a series of reciprocate attempts to avoid political controversies, and London's contribution to humanitarian aid and the economic recovery of post-revolutionary Russia. Special consideration is also given to the impact of British diplomacy on the recognition of the USSR by other great powers like France, Italy, and Japan in the mid-1920s."-- Provided by publisher This book analyses the principal aspects of the relations between Soviet Russia (USSR) and Britain in the crucial phase of their formation, namely the period from 1917 to 1924. Using previously unavailable and largely unknown archival records and memoirs published by statesmen, diplomats and military commanders directly involved in the events, Evgeny Sergeev not only reconstructs the dynamics of the interaction between Moscow and London, but also strips its key episodes of common myths and stereotypes. The most debatable issues, to which this study draws its primary attention, include Britain’s role in the Entente armed intervention against the Bolshevik regime as well as a series of reciprocate attempts to avoid political controversies, and London’s contribution to humanitarian aid and the economic recovery of post-revolutionary Russia. Special consideration is also given to the impact of British diplomacy on the recognition of the USSR by other great powers like France, Italy, and Japan in the mid-1920s. Cover Contents List of Illustrations List of Maps Preface Maps Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Select Chronology Introduction 1 The problem of Brest in Soviet-British relations 2 British armed intervention ‘by agreement’ 3 The so-called ‘complot of ambassadors’ 4 Oriental trends of the Soviet-British relations, 1918 5 ‘Stillborn crusade’ against Bolsheviks and ‘Russian question’ at the Paris Peace Conference 6 The Baltic problem, Soviet-Polish war and trade negotiations 7 From bad to worse: Soviet-British relations in the Middle and Far East, 1919–22 8 Soviet Russia and Great Britain at the international conferences, 1922–3 9 The ‘Curzon ultimatum’ of 1923 10 The USSR’s recognition by Britain and its repercussions Epilogue Notes Select bibliography Index