{"record":{"aliases":[],"appointmentIds":["russia-9bdcb629b28380"],"appointmentsDataset":"https://chanceries.org/diplomats.json","archivalSources":["litvinov-lendlease"],"canonicalUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/maxim-litvinov-c4f329b53d/","countrySlug":"russia","entityId":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/maxim-litvinov-c4f329b53d/#person","eventIds":[],"expandedParagraphs":["Maxim Litvinov began as a revolutionary before becoming one of the Soviet Union’s leading diplomats. Born in Białystok in 1876, he joined the socialist movement, supported Lenin’s Bolshevik faction, and spent years abroad. After the revolution he briefly represented the Soviet government in London, then returned to Moscow and became a deputy foreign commissar. As foreign commissar from 1930 to 1939, he pursued agreements with Western states and collective security against Nazi Germany.","His negotiations with Franklin Roosevelt in Washington produced American recognition of the Soviet Union in November 1933. Their exchange of letters established diplomatic relations and provided assurances about noninterference, the treatment of American citizens, and further discussion of debts and claims. Disputes over implementation remained unresolved.","Stalin replaced him with Vyacheslav Molotov in May 1939, shortly before the Soviet agreement with Nazi Germany. Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union brought Litvinov back into a prominent role as ambassador to Washington in 1941. He participated in the Roosevelt–Molotov discussions of 1942 on war supplies, a second European front, and cooperation after victory.","Litvinov signed the Soviet-American master Lend-Lease agreement with Secretary of State Cordell Hull on 11 June 1942. The following month he communicated Moscow’s acceptance of the Second Supply Protocol, while pressing for more aircraft and industrial materials. His letter specified shortages, challenged limits on particular categories, and authorized the Soviet purchasing commission to work through the details.","Recalled in 1943, Litvinov continued as a deputy foreign commissar and advocated postwar cooperation among the great powers. He left office in 1946 and died in 1951."],"id":"russia:maxim litvinov","identifiers":{},"legacyPersonIds":[],"legacyUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplomat-c4f329b53daba303dcd0.html","name":"Maxim Litvinov","notes":[],"paragraphSources":[["litvinov-encyclopedia"],["litvinov-recognition","litvinov-milestones"],["litvinov-encyclopedia","litvinov-molotov"],["litvinov-lendlease","litvinov-protocol"],["litvinov-encyclopedia"]],"profileUrl":"diplomat-c4f329b53daba303dcd0.html","relatedEvents":[{"basis":"named-in-story","country":"Russia","date":"1933-11-16","description":"Franklin D. Roosevelt and Maxim Litvinov exchange letters establishing normal diplomatic relations. The agreement ends nearly sixteen years of American refusal to recognize the Soviet government.","id":"russia-recognition","note":"Named people and the recorded mission tenure provide the connection; overlap does not establish personal participation.","sourceUrls":["https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1933-39/d23"],"title":"Washington recognizes the Soviet Union","url":"Russia.html#history-russia-recognition"}],"relatedPeople":[],"relationships":[],"researchStatus":"reviewed","reviewedOn":"2026-10-28","revision":"86664c8e89871db1","sources":[{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"","id":"litvinov-encyclopedia","locator":"Signed biographical entry","publisher":"Encyclopedia of Russian History, via Encyclopedia.com","title":"Hugh Phillips, Maxim Maximovich Litvinov","type":"reference","url":"https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/russian-soviet-and-cis-history-biographies/maxim-maximovich-litvinov"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"","id":"litvinov-recognition","locator":"16 November 1933, exchanged letters","publisher":"American Presidency Project; presidential papers","title":"Roosevelt–Litvinov communications establishing diplomatic relations","type":"primary-record","url":"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/communications-between-the-president-franklin-d-roosevelt-and-maxim-litvinov-the-union"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"","id":"litvinov-milestones","locator":"Roosevelt–Litvinov Conversations section","publisher":"U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian","title":"Recognition of the Soviet Union, 1933","type":"institutional-history","url":"https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/ussr"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"","id":"litvinov-molotov","locator":"11 June 1942","publisher":"American Presidency Project; White House statement","title":"Statement on Roosevelt–Molotov Conversations","type":"primary-record","url":"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-roosevelt-molotov-conversations"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"","id":"litvinov-lendlease","locator":"FRUS 1942, III, document 589, editorial paragraph after Burns memorandum","publisher":"U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian","title":"Editorial record of the master Lend-Lease agreement signing","type":"archive","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1942v03/d589"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"","id":"litvinov-protocol","locator":"FRUS 1942, III, document 594; 7 July 1942","publisher":"U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian","title":"Litvinov to the Secretary of State on the Second Supply Protocol","type":"primary-record","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1942v03/d594"},{"accessedOn":"","date":"2026-10-23","id":"mission-bad2e07ed4d2db7b35e7","locator":"","publisher":"","title":"FRUS, Washington and Casablanca conferences 1941–1943 — Persons","type":"Mission record","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1941-43/persons"},{"accessedOn":"","date":"2026-10-23","id":"mission-8f6fa2a0dec7248a7d09","locator":"","publisher":"","title":"State Department, Office of the Chief of Protocol — Russia (2007 archive)","type":"Mission record","url":"https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/cpr/94409.htm"},{"accessedOn":"","date":"Accessed 27 October 2026","id":"mission-268a060f79fc6197a038","locator":"The editorial note identifies Hull and Litvinov’s 11 June 1942 signing and exchange of notes; the document explains the agreement’s role in the later settlement negotiations.","publisher":"","title":"Office of the Historian — Lend-Lease settlement and the Hull–Litvinov agreement","type":"Mission record","url":"https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1949v05/d427"}],"topics":["Soviet recognition 1933","collective security","Second World War","Lend-Lease","United Kingdom"]},"schemaVersion":1}