Franco-Italian Declaration
4.1282 Franco-Italian Declaration
Alliance Members:France and Italy
Signed On:January 7, 1935, in the city of Rome. In force until Octo-
ber 11, 1935, when France joined in the sanctions against Italy in
response to Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia.
Alliance Type:Entente (Type III)
Source:Documents Diplomatiques Francais 1932–1939, Series II, vol. 1,
p. 603.
SUMMARY
The French and Italian governments sought a common method of limit-
ing Germany’s possible expansionism and arrived at these Rome
Accords, signed in January 1935. Bettering ties, symbolized in part by the
pact itself, were seen by many world leaders as giving Italy freer rein to
indulge in African territorial gains. However, Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia
in October 1935 led to the disintegration of the short-lived pact.
Description of Terms
The minister of foreign affairs of France and the chief of the
Italian government, considering that the conventions had
solved their problems and all the issues concerning the applica-
tion of the article 13 of the accord of London of April 26, 1915;
considering that issues in the future will be solved diplomati-
cally, declare that the two countries want to develop their tradi-
tional friendship and maintain general peace.
In order to maintain the independence and integrity of Aus-
tria, Italy and France agree that when Austrian independence
and integrity are threatened, they will consult with respect to
the measures to be taken.
Should Germany want to unilaterally free itself from previ-
ous treaties in order to be able to rearm, the two governments,
animated by the desire to produce a common accord, agree to
consult on the proper attitude to adopt.
4.1283 Defense Pact between France and the
Union of Soviet Socialist States
Alliance Members:France and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Signed On:May 2, 1935, in the city of Paris. In force until September
3, 1939, when France entered the war against Germany, then an ally of
the Soviet Union.
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:The American Journal of International Law,vol.30,no.4,Sup-
plement: Official Documents (October 1936), p. 177–180.
SUMMARY
During the years following World War I, the Russians viewed Germany
as a natural ally as both nations were excluded from the League of
Nations. This changed, however, with the rise in Germany of Adolf
Hitler, whom Stalin eventually viewed as a threat to peace in Europe
and to his industrialization plan at home. By 1935, Stalin wanted an
alternative to the Treaty of Rapallo, which linked Germany and the
Soviet Union via military cooperation.
Despite this alliance, mutual mistrust grew between France and the
Soviets. Both leaderships had a common enemy in Germany, but the
Soviets began to doubt France’s willingness to thwart Hitler’s growing
power, especially as Germany began to arm in violation of the Treaty
of Versailles. The pact collapsed when the Soviet Union exercised its
options in the secret clauses of the Russo-German Non-Aggression
Pact of 1939 and occupied one-third of Poland as France quickly
entered the war against Germany.Alliance Text
The Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and The President of the French Republic,
Being desirous of strengthening peace in Europe and of
guaranteeing its benefits to their respective countries by secur-
ing a fuller and stricter application of the provisions of the
Covenant of the League of Nations which are designed to main-
tain the national security, territorial integrity and political inde-
pendence of States;
Determined to devote their efforts to the preparation and
conclusion of a European agreement for that purpose, and in
the meantime to promote, as far as lies in their power, the effec-
tive application of the provisions of the Covenant of the League
of Nations;
Have resolved to conclude a Treaty to this end and have
appointed as their Plenipotentiaries:
The Central Executive Committee of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics: Monsieur Vladimir Potemkine, Member of
the Central Executive Committee, Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
accredited to the President of the French Republic;
The President of the French Republic: Monsieur Pierre
Laval, Senator, Minister for Foreign Affairs;
Who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and
due form, have agreed upon the following provisions:
Article 1. In the event of France or the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics being threatened with or in danger of
aggression on the part of a European State, the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and reciprocally France undertake to pro-
ceed to an immediate consultation as regards the measures to be
taken for the observance of the provisions of Article 10 of the
Covenant of the League of Nations.
Article 2. Should, in the circumstances specified in Article
15, paragraph 7, of the Covenant of the League of Nations,
France or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics be the object,
notwithstanding the sincerely peaceful intentions of both coun-
tries, of an unprovoked aggression on the part of a European
State, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and reciprocally
France shall immediately come to each other’s aid and assis-
tance.
Article 3. In consideration of the fact that under article 16 of
the Covenant of the League of Nations any member of the
League which resorts to war in disregard of its covenants under
Articles 12, 13 or 15 of the Covenant is ipso factodeemed to