Maxim Litvinov

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. ¹

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. ^{2, 3}

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. ^{1, 4}

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. ^{5, 6}

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. ¹