“Rakovsky Incident”: the Strategy of the Conduct by Soviet Plenipotentiary in Paris

Abstract

The article investigates the activities of the Soviet plenipotentiary in Paris in the period of August-October 1927 in connection with the «Rakovsky Incident» - a scandal in the French press that arose after the signing of Ch. Rakovsky in early August 1927 of a statement by the left opposition. Four main areas of activity were identified: contacts with French politicians; cooperation with french press; a new proposal on the Franco-Soviet agreement on debts and credits; interaction with Moscow. The Soviet plenipotentiary in Paris, trying to use all his contacts and acquaintances, tried to get in touch with various French politicians and enlist their support. But the growing campaign of criticism regarding the “Rakovsky case” led to the fact that fewer and fewer politicians contacted him, or only gave empty assurances of support. Even Ch. Rakovsky’s close friend, Anatole de Monzie, behaved extremely indecisively. On the other hand, as recorded in a number of documents, Ch. Rakovsky himself sometimes behaved too self-confidently, ignoring advices. Regarding the press, with the exacerbation of the campaign, the number of newspapers that were ready to cooperate with the Soviet plenipotentiary in Paris decreased. Some of them paid money for it, some printed critical material at the direction of the owners of these newspapers, some followed the dominant trend of criticism of a diplomat. Only the newspaper of the Communist Party - "L'Humanité" - until the end remained loyal to the Soviet plenipotentiary. Ch. Rakovsky laid great hopes on his new proposal for debts and credits. But it was criticized by literally everyone: French politicians, the Paris press, and even their own Soviet government (in close cooperation with which these theses were developed). The leadership of the USSR in the person of I. Stalin spent a lot of effort to discredit Ch. Rakovsky and worsen his situation. This was especially vivid during the period of «Incident». By September 13, official Moscow was silent, and all requests for assistance and proposals for improving the situation were essentially ignored. All of the above was the reason for the very poor efficiency of Ch. Rakovsky’s actions and led to his further departure from France.