Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918

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World History

270.

Anglo-Soviet Agreement for Joint Action Against Germany (July 12, 1941) and Alliance (May 26, 1942)

20

A

Agreement for Joint Action by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the War against Germany, July 12, 1941.

His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have concluded the present Agreement and declare as follows:—

(1) The two Governments mutually undertake to render each other assistance and support of all kinds in the present war against Hitlerite Germany.

(2) They further undertake that during this war they will neither negotiate nor conclude an armistice or treaty of peace except by mutual agreement.

The present Agreement has been concluded in duplicate in the English and Russian languages.

Both texts have equal force.

Moscow, the twelfth of July, nineteen hundred and forty-one.

By authority of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom: R. STAFFORD CRIPPS.

His Majesty’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

By authority of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:

V. MOLOTOV.

The Deputy President of the Council of People’s Commissars and People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Protocol to the Agreement for Joint Action by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the War against Germany, Concluded July 12, 1941.

Upon the conclusion of the Agreement for Joint Action by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the War against Germany, the Contracting Parties have agreed that the aforesaid Agreement enters into force immediately upon signature and is not subject to ratification.

The present Protocol has been drawn up in duplicate in the English and Russian languages.

Both texts have equal force.

Moscow, the twelfth of July, nineteen hundred and forty-one.

B

Treaty of Alliance in the War against Hitlerite Germany and Her Associates in Europe and of Collaboration and Mutual Assistance Thereafter Concluded between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Signed at London, May 26, 1942.

His Majesty The King of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, and the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics;

Desiring to confirm the stipulations of the Agreement between His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Soviet Republics for joint action in the war against Germany, signed at Moscow on the 12th July, 1941, and to replace them by a formal treaty;

Desiring to contribute after the war to the maintenance of peace and to the prevention of further aggression by Germany or the States associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe;

Desiring, moreover, to give expression to their intention to collaborate closely with one another as well as with the other United Nations at the peace settlement and during the ensuing period of reconstruction on the basis of the principles enunciated in the declaration made on the 14th August, 1941 [Atlantic Charter] by the President of the United States of America and the Prime Minister of Great Britain to which the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has adhered;

Desiring, finally, to provide for mutual assistance in the event of an attack upon either High Contracting Party by Germany or any of the States associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.

Have decided to conclude a treaty for that purpose and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:—

His Majesty The King of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India,

For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: THE RIGHT HONORABLE ANTHONY EDEN, M.P., His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs;

The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: M. VYACHESLAV MIKHAILOVICH MOLOTOV, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs,

Who, having communicated their Full Powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:—

PART I

ARTICLE I. In virtue of the alliance established between the United Kingdom and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the High Contracting Parties mutually undertake to afford one another military and other assistance and support of all kinds in the war against Germany and all those States which are associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.

ARTICLE II. The High Contracting Parties undertake not to enter into any negotiations with the Hitlerite Government or any other Government in Germany that does not clearly renounce all aggressive intentions, and not to negotiate or conclude except by mutual consent any armistice or peace treaty with Germany or any other State associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.

PART II

ARTICLE III. (1) The High Contracting Parties declare their desire to unite with other like-minded States in adopting proposals for common action to preserve peace and resist aggression in the post-war period.

(2) Pending the adoption of such proposals, they will after the termination of hostilities take all the measures in their power to render impossible a repetition of aggression and violation of the peace by Germany or any of the States associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.

ARTICLE IV. Should one of the High Contracting Parties during the post-war period become involved in hostilities with Germany or any of the States mentioned in Article III (2) in consequence of an attack by that State against that Party, the other High Contracting Party will at once give to the Contracting Party so involved in hostilities all the military and other support and assistance in his power.

This Article shall remain in force until the High Contracting Parties, by mutual agreement, shall recognize that it is superseded by the adoption of the proposals contemplated in Article III (1). In default of the adoption of such proposals, it shall remain in force for a period of twenty years, and thereafter until terminated by either High Contracting Party, as provided in Article VIII.

ARTICLE V. The High Contracting Parties, having regard to the interests of the security of each of them, agree to work together in close and friendly collaboration after the re-establishment of peace for the organization of security and economic prosperity in Europe. They will take into account the interests of the United Nations in these objects, and they will act in accordance with the two principles of not seeking territorial aggrandizement for themselves and of non-inter-ference in the internal affairs of other States.

ARTICLE VI. The High Contracting Parties agree to render one another all possible economic assistance after the war.

ARTICLE VII. Each High Contracting Party undertakes not to conclude any alliance and not to take part in any coalition directed against the other High Contracting Party.

ARTICLE VIII. The present Treaty is subject to ratification in the shortest possible time and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged in Moscow as soon as possible.

It comes into force immediately on the exchange of the instruments of ratification and shall thereupon replace the Agreement between the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, signed at Moscow on the 12th July, 1941.

Part I of the present Treaty shall remain in force until the re-establishment of peace between the High Contracting Parties and Germany and the Powers associated with her in acts of aggression in Europe.

Part II of the present Treaty shall remain in force for a period of twenty years. Thereafter, unless twelve months’ notice has been given by either Party to terminate the Treaty at the end of the said period of twenty years, it shall continue in force until twelve months after either High Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other in writing of his intention to terminate it.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the above-named Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Treaty and have affixed thereto their seals.

DONE in duplicate in London on the 26th day of May, 1942, in the English and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

20A. from Great Britain, Parliamentary Papers, Agreement between His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Providing for Joint Action in the War against Germany (with Protocol), Moscow, July 12, 1941. Presented by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to Parliament by Command of His Majesty, Treaty Series No. 15 (1941), Soviet Union, Cmd. 6304, His Majesty’s Stationery Office, London, 1941.

B. from Great Britain, Parliamentary Papers, Treaty for an Alliance in the War against Hitlerite Germany and Her Associates in Europe and also Providing for Collaboration and Mutual Assistance Thereafter Concluded between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, London, May 26, 1942. (Ratifications Exchanged at Moscow, July 4, 1942.) Presented by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to Parliament by Command of His Majesty, Treaty Series, No. 2 (1942), Soviet Union, Cmd. 6376, His Majesty’s Stationery Office, London, 1942.

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Chicago: "Anglo-Soviet Agreement for Joint Action Against Germany (July 12, 1941) and Alliance (May 26, 1942)," Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918 in Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918, ed. Walter Consuelo Langsam and James Michael Egan (Chicage: Lippincott, 1951), 900–904. Original Sources, accessed April 24, 2024, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=UL5XTL46CT5YPZ6.

MLA: . "Anglo-Soviet Agreement for Joint Action Against Germany (July 12, 1941) and Alliance (May 26, 1942)." Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918, in Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918, edited by Walter Consuelo Langsam and James Michael Egan, Chicage, Lippincott, 1951, pp. 900–904. Original Sources. 24 Apr. 2024. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=UL5XTL46CT5YPZ6.

Harvard: , 'Anglo-Soviet Agreement for Joint Action Against Germany (July 12, 1941) and Alliance (May 26, 1942)' in Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918. cited in 1951, Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918, ed. , Lippincott, Chicage, pp.900–904. Original Sources, retrieved 24 April 2024, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=UL5XTL46CT5YPZ6.