What kind of memory did Ch. Rakovsky leave behind in France? The reflection of the press of the Third Republic (October 1927 – June 1940)

Abstract

The article reveals the question of how and under the influence of what the memory of Ch. Rakovsky changed in France after October 1927. The Third Republic occupied a significant place in the life of Ch. Rakovsky: he lived there for many years, studied, had a large number of acquaintances, studied the French language and culture well, even considered the option of staying there, obtaining citizenship and building a political career. In 1925-1927, he was the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the USSR in Paris. However, at the end of the summer of 1927, a scandal broke out, which became known as the «Rakovsky incident», and in October of the same year, the diplomat was forced to leave France.

However, after the indicated life path, the former ambassador was not instantly forgotten. In «Le Temps» in the first time after Ch. Rakovsky was recalled from Paris, he remained a negative person who was subjected to various criticisms. In about a year, the publication's position softened, and it was recognized that there was some effectiveness from the former ambassador – negotiations were moving on to settle the issue of the Russian royal debts, which was important to the French. The thesis that Ch. Rakovsky is the former ambassador of the USSR in Paris can generally be found in almost every article of «Le Temps» (after October 1927) where this Soviet figure was mentioned. So a basic reminder of who he is was constantly broadcast to the French readers of this newspaper. In the 1930s, in connection with the persecution of Ch. Rakovsky as a representative of the opposition of the VKPB, the content of «Le Temps» articles towards him softened, and the amount of information about his early years in the Third Republic increased. But the French did not forget the scandal of 1927.

«Le Matin» chose a slightly different strategy in relation to Ch. Rakovsky. At first, the publication tried to pay a minimum amount of attention to his person, while at the same time showing contempt for him. If such an approach were to be preserved, it would contribute to the faster forgetting of Ch. Rakovsky by the French. But like «Le Temps», «Le Matin» somewhat improved its attitude towards the former Soviet ambassador in Paris in connection with the persecution of him as one of the leaders and an active member of the opposition of the VKPB. When he is mentioned in the newspaper, he is returned with the address «monsieur», as well as a reminder of his diplomatic past in France.

As for «L'Humanité», here the change of emphasis regarding Ch. Rakovsky often coincided with the «fluctuation of the general line of the party» of the VKPB, which once again confirms the close ties between the FKP and the Kremlin with the predominant influence of Moscow. In the first weeks after the recall from Paris, the newspaper spoke positively about Ch. Rakovsky, portraying the image of a «victim of the capitalists». In subsequent articles, with the development of the struggle against the left opposition, he appeared mainly as a Soviet politician. Criticism of him grew, and at the same time, mentions of Ch. Rakovsky's past, in any way connected with France, were hushed up, which was obviously intended to reduce the number of points of tension between Moscow and Paris. The exception was a period not long after Ch. Rakovsky's public «repentance» and his return from exile in the mid-1930s.

Therefore, the image offered to their readers by various publications, the memory they formed about Ch. Rakovsky – underwent changes depending on the events that took place both around the former diplomat and in the middle of France itself. The most noticeable changes in this are related to the stages of Stalin's struggle with the left opposition of the VKPB. Ch. Rakovsky went through trials, as a result of which he was convicted twice (in 1928 and 1938). After the second court case and the exile of Ch. Rakovskyi in 1938, the largest French newspapers hardly mentioned him anymore.