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p The strong alliance and unbreakable friendship between the Soviet Union and the People’s Democracies which arose during and after the Second 87 World War were legally consolidated in treaties of friendship, mutual assistance and postwar cooperation.

p The treaties of friendship and mutual assistance between the USSR and the People’s Democracies are international legal documents of historic significance, fundamentally differing from treaties concluded between capitalist states. They are treaties of truly equal partners, documents mirroring international relations of a new type. Reflecting the fundamental changes in the world relationship of political forces as a result of the Second World War, they consolidate relations based on the principles of proletarian internationalism.

p The treaties concluded between the Soviet Union and the People’s Democracies legally put an end to the reciprocal estrangement and hostility which were artificially implanted by governments under the bourgeois-landowner system.

p Treaties of friendship and mutual assistance were concluded in different periods and in different historical conditions. We have already mentioned the treaties between the USSR and Czechoslovakia and the Polish Republic. They were signed during the Second World War and, therefore, naturally bore the nature of a military alliance of the contracting parties in the armed struggle against the common enemy.

p The treaty concluded between the USSR and the Czechoslovak Republic in 1943 acquired a qualitatively new meaning after the defeat of the reactionary forces in February 1948, which signified the final victory of the dictatorship of the proletariat in that country.

p After the war, too, the reactionary forces tried to annul the revolutionary gains of the 88 people, to take the country back onto the capitalist path and to sever it from the Soviet Union and the People’s Democracies. But the people thought and acted otherwise. Under the guidance of the working class headed by the Communist Party, the people of Czechoslovakia upheld and extended their gains in sharp class struggle against the reactionaries. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia successfully broke down the obstinate resistance of the internal and international reactionaries who in February 1948 mounted a general offensive against the democratic forces in order to seize power.

p The government crisis in February 1948, provoked on orders from Washington and London by Czechoslovak reactionaries, was rooted in their desire to torpedo democratic measures and to set Czechoslovakia at loggerheads with her true friends. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia pointed out that the Czech and Slovak bourgeoisie were not in the least disturbed by the fact that this would precipitate another Munich, a new national and state disaster.

p In the crucial February days, the Czechoslovak patriots, irrespective of party affiliation, on the call of the Communist Party rose up to defend their freedom and social gains, upholding at the same time the Soviet-Czechoslovak alliance as the decisive factor for preserving national independence and sovereignty. The February events put an end to the hypocritical policy of the bourgeoisie towards the country’s powerful ally, the Soviet Union. Czechoslovakia took up a firm place in the socialist camp.

p The treaty of friendship and mutual assistance 89 between the USSR and the Czechoslovak Republic was a major means for strengthening the unbreakable alliance between the peoples of the two fraternal countries, of safeguarding Czechoslovakia’s national independence and state sovereignty. At the same time, the treaty helped consolidate the Soviet Union’s international position. It became an important instrument of the Soviet and Czechoslovak peoples in their struggle against the aggressive plans of the West German revanchists backed by US imperialism.

p As for Poland, her provisional democratic government, complying with the popular will, concluded a Treaty of Friendship, Mutual Assistance and Postwar Co-operation with the Soviet Union on April 21, 1945. The treaty legally consolidated the relations of alliance and friendly co-operation between the two countries which had arisen during the liberation war against nazi Germany, in conformity with the principles of mutual respect for their independence and sovereignty and also non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. The parties assumed the obligation, after the end of the war against Germany, to resort to joint measures at their disposal for eliminating any threat of a recurrence of aggression on the part of Germany or any other state which would unite with Germany directly or in any other way. They stressed that they would participate in the spirit of the most sincere cooperation in all international undertakings designed to safeguard the peace and security of the nations and would fully contribute to the achievement of these lofty aims. Should one of the parties after the war become involved in hostilities against Germany, which would resume 90 her aggressive policy, or against any other state which would unite with her, the treaty provided for the rendering of military and other assistance and support by all available means. Provision was made for co-operation in the spirit of friendship with the object of further developing and strengthening economic and cultural ties and mutual assistance in economic restoration. The treaty of April 21, 1945, became a guarantee of the independence, might and prosperity of the Polish People’s Republic.

p Treaties of friendship and mutual assistance were concluded at the beginning of 1948 between the USSR and Bulgaria, the USSR and Hungary, and the USSR and Rumania, which during the war had been satellites of nazi Germany because of their pro-Hitler governments, but after the war embarked on the path of People’s Democracy.

p The signing of the treaties with these countries was determined by the international situation which arose after the Second World War— the formation of two opposing camps and the exacerbation of relations between them because of the frankly expansionist course proclaimed by the US imperialists. The United States began to prepare and organise aggression. In Europe the United States and Britain mainly staked on the revival of the militarist and revanchist forces in West Germany occupied by them together with France. They tried to utilise it as the main basis for preparing war against the socialist states.

p The Truman Doctrine proclaimed on March 12, 1947, and the Marshall Plan initiated on June 5, 1947, were an expression of the expansionist aspirations of the United States. The Truman Doctrine provided for American “aid” to 91 countries with reactionary regimes which energetically opposed the democratic forces; it was of a frankly aggressive nature. Specifically mentioning Greece and Turkey, President Truman asked Congress to appropriate $400 million up to June 30, 1948, for “aid” to them. Washington expected to turn these countries into a bastion of American imperialism in the Balkans, to set up its naval bases in the Eastern part of the Mediterranean and, relying on them, threaten the Soviet Union and the People’s Democracies, above all those in Southeast Europe. According to Thomas Bailey, an American bourgeois historian, "the Truman Doctrine was the major opening gun in what journalists called the ’cold war’—a war waged by means other than shooting".  [91•1 

p The Marshall Plan was a continuation and development of the Truman Doctrine, being aimed at the economic and political subordination of the European countries to American imperialism, and at reviving the West German military potential. It envisaged far-reaching strategic aims. This was stated outright by the President’s foreign aid consultative committee. One of the reports of the committee pointed out that the interests of the United States in Europe must not be regarded merely from the economic angle. They also have a strategic and political character.  [91•2  The substance of the Marshall Plan was described even more clearly by US Secretary of Defence Forrestal. At the beginning of 1948 he stated in a Senate committee that it was 92 necessary to unite the armed forces of Europe under the guidance of the United States. As for the place of West Germany in American plans, John Foster Dulles stated that Germany offered the United States an exceptional opportunity for assuming a leading role.

p The Marshall Plan, camouflaged as a programme for restoring war-ruined Europe, was in reality designed to arm and mobilise the European capitalist countries for a clash with the USSR and the People’s Democracies. Forrestal said he was confident that Marshall (Secretary of State at the time) would demand of the European nations military bases for the American armed forces as compensation for American aid. Forrestal hoped that the US Department of Defence would be charged with co-ordinating the armed forces of the 16 countries covered by the Marshall Plan.  [92•1 

p This imperialist plan thus posed the question of organising a military political bloc of Western states under the aegis of the United States and which would be directed against the USSR and the People’s Democracies. This bloc was formalised in April 1949 and christened the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), initially joined by 12 states: the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Portugal. In 1952 Greece and Turkey were admitted.

p The United States decided to utilise West Germany as the chief instrument of its policy in Europe. The ruling circles of the Western 93 powers actually renounced the jointly adopted decisions on Germany envisaging that Germany would be regarded as a single economic entity. Immediately after the war ended they adopted the policy of dividing Germany, reviving in her Western part the old militarist forces and enrolling her in the aggressive military bloc directed against the USSR and the People’s Democracies. By combining the three occupation zones (American, British and French) and creating the Bonn state (September 1949), the United States, Britain and France placed the Western part of Germany outside the joint control of the four powers. At the same time they undertook to whip together a special group of West European states counterposed to the countries of Eastern Europe, which resulted, as pointed out in the Soviet Government’s note, "in the political division of Europe and the formation of two camps of European countries".  [93•1 

p Under those circumstances the Soviet Union and the People’s Democracies had to see to the strengthening of their defence and security system, to preventing fresh German aggression.

p The treaties of friendship and mutual assistance between the Soviet Union and Rumania (February 4, 1948), Hungary (February 18, 1948) and Bulgaria (March 18, 1948) and the treaties with other People’s Democracies became another barrier in the way of the aggressive imperialist plans.

p The conclusion of the treaties was facilitated both by the internal political conditions in these countries and by the ever growing Soviet 94 economic and political co-operation with the People’s Democracies.

p The treaties were fully based on the principles of equality of nations, big- and small, and noninterlerence in each other’s internal affairs. In contrast to treaties and pacts between countries in the imperialist camp, treaties between the USSR and the People’s Democracies have always been designed to safeguard general peace and the security of the peoples. They reflect the new relations which struck root among the fraternal countries.

p Let us examine the basic propositions of these documents taking the Soviet-Rumanian treaty as an example. It consists of six articles. The preamble defines the aims of the contracting parties: consolidation of friendly relations and the maintenance of close co-operation in the interest of strengthening general peace and security in conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, maintenance of friendship and good-neighbourliness between the USSR and Rumania conforming to the vital interests of the peoples of both countries.

p Proceeding from the bitter lessons of the last war and the international situation which arose after it, the contracting parties undertook to prevent a recurrence of German aggression and to this end take "jointly all measures for eliminating any threat of a repetition of aggression on the part of Germany or any other state which would unite with Germany directly or in any other form”. The treaty provided for the participation of the parties in all international actions aimed at safeguarding the peace and security of nations (Article 1). In the event of one party becoming 95 embroiled in war against Germany or any state which would unite with the latter, the other party is obliged to render every possible military and other assistance to the other party (Article 2).

p Consequently, the treaty is designated above all for preventing possible aggression by German imperialism.

p Each party pledged not to participate in alliances and coalitions hostile toward the other party and also in actions or measures directed against it (Article 3). They undertook to consult each other "on all important international issues affecting the interests of both parties" (Article 4) and to act in the spirit of friendship and cooperation so as to develop and strengthen economic and cultural ties between both states, "adhering to the principles of mutual respect for their independence and sovereignty and also noninterference in the internal affairs of the other state" (Article 5). The term of the treaty was set at 20 years (Article 6).

p The contents of treaties of friendship and mutual assistance concluded by the USSR with Hungary and Bulgaria in f948 are similar.

p The treaties with Rumania, Hungary and Bulgaria completed the series of pacts of friendship and mutual assistance with all states along the western frontier of the USSR—from the Black to the Baltic seas.

p The treaties received high acclaim in the People’s Democracies. "Hungarian public opinion and governmental circles,” the Soviet Minister to Hungary, for example, reported to the USSR Foreign Ministry on February 28, 1948, "received with great satisfaction news of the conclusion of the Soviet-Hungarian Treaty of Friendship, 96 Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. The day after the government delegation had left for Moscow, the Hungarian newspapers wrote that the Soviet Union was the only great power in the world which could ensure Hungary’s independence both politically and economically; without close cooperation with it the building of a genuine People’s Democracy in Hungary would be inconceivable.”  [96•1 

p The alliance of the Soviet and the Chinese peoples aimed at maintaining world peace was likewise of historic significance. This alliance became possible after the victory of the popular revolution in China and the formation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance between the USSR and the People’s Republic of China, concluded on February 14, 1950, was a big contribution to the strengthening of peace and democracy in the Far East.

p Treaties of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance were also concluded between the People’s Democracies. These documents were likewise based on the principles of equality and noninterference in each other’s internal affairs. They fully met the interests of safeguarding the security, independence and territorial integrity of countries in the socialist camp, fully conformed to the principles of the United Nations and were designed to promote peace and international cooperation.

p Treaties of friendship and mutual assistance were concluded: between Bulgaria and Rumania on January 16, 1948; between Poland and 97 Czechoslovakia, on March 10, 1947; between Rumania and Czechoslovakia, on July 21, 1948; Hungary and Poland, on June 18, 1948; Hungary and Rumania, on January 24, 1948; Rumania and Poland, on January 26, 1949; and between Albania and Bulgaria, on December 18, 1947.

p Thus, by 1950 the Soviet Union had concluded treaties of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance with almost all the People’s Democracies, and similar agreements had also been signed between European people’s democratic states.

p The Warsaw Treaty of Friendship, Co- operation and Mutual Assistance signed by the Soviet Union and all the European People’s Democracies on May 14, 1955, became an important landmark in the history of the socialist camp. The conclusion of the Warsaw Treaty was dictated by the interests of reinforcing the defence capacity of the socialist countries, developing their friendship and mutual assistance in full conformity with respect for and recognition of the independence and sovereignty of the member states, and noninterference in their internal affairs.

p The Warsaw Treaty, which is defensive in nature, was concluded after the ratification by the Western powers of the Paris agreements which incorporated West Germany into the aggressive groups—the North Atlantic alliance and the Western Union created as its component part. These powers refused to accept the proposal for the dissolution of military blocs and the creation of a collective security system. The ratification of the Paris agreements created a new situation in Europe: militarist West Germany officially became an ally of the United States, Britain and 98 other Western members of the North Atlantic bloc and received their sanction to build up her armed forces; this heightened the danger of another world war and the imperialist threat to the national security of peace-loving states.

p In the preamble to the Warsaw Treaty the signatory states declared their readiness "to participate in the spirit of sincere co-operation in all international actions designed to safeguard international peace and security”; they "will fully dedicate their efforts to achieving these aims" (Article 2). Article 3 provides for consultations among the contracting parties on all important international questions affecting their common interests. "They shall at once consult among themselves,” Article 3 reads, "every time when, in the opinion of any one of them, a threat arises of armed attack on one or several members of the Treaty, in the interest of ensuring joint defence and maintaining peace and security.”

p In the event of armed attack in Europe on one or several member states by any other state or group of states every member shall render to the state or states subjected to attack immediate aid "by every means it deems necessary, including the use of armed force. Members of the Treaty shall immediately consult on joint measures which must be undertaken to restore and maintain international peace and security" (Article 4). On the basis of Article 5 of the Treaty, its signatories organised a joint command of the armed forces assigned to this command. The Treaty provided for the setting up of a Political Consultative Committee which meets periodically and adopts agreed decisions on major questions pertaining to the further 99 development and strengthening of co-operation between member countries in the prevailing international situation.

p In contrast to Western alliances, the Warsaw Treaty is open to other states, irrespective of their social and state system, which "express readiness, by participating in the present Treaty, to promote the pooling of effort by peace-loving states for the purpose of safeguarding the peace and security of nations" (Article 9).

p The Treaty was concluded for a term of 20 years with the subsequent prolongation for ten years by members which one year prior to the expiration of the 20-year term, do not denounce it. There is a special reservation that in the event of a collective security system being established in Europe, the Warsaw Treaty shall lose its force from the day a general European treaty of collective security becomes operative.

p The Warsaw Treaty was another major step in strengthening and developing economic, political and military co-operation of socialist countries and creating a reliable collective security system of socialist states.

p The wide system of equal and friendly interstate relations which arose in the socialist camp reflected the all-round co-operation of the socialist countries which was growing in scale and depth. A characteristic feature of all treaties of friendship and mutual assistance between socialist countries is that they aim to guarantee an enduring peace and international security and to prevent imperialist aggression.

p Treaties between the USSR and the People’s Democracies offer no advantages and privileges to one contracting party over the other. Far from 100 infringing in any degree the national interests of the People’s Democracies, they are designed to strengthen security and to ensure national independence and sovereignty.

The treaties of friendship and mutual assistance between the USSR and the People’s Democracies and between the People’s Democracies themselves, being the very opposite in nature and substance to the treaties of an imperialist type, reflect the new, socialist international relations. They make up the foundation of the collective security of the countries in the world socialist community, serve as an important instrument for ensuring international co-operation and consolidating world peace, and are a stumbling block to imperialism’s aggressive plans. These treaties helped to weld together the socialist countries into a single family, to reinforce the might of the socialist community and to create the necessary international conditions for building socialism and communism.