Molotov: Stalin's Cold Warrior

Geoffrey Roberts has undertaken the formidable task of refuting the interpretation of Vyacheslav Molotov as an inveterate Cold Warrior and replacing it with a more subtle picture. Most of the book is devoted to a review of Molotov's diplomatic career under Iosif Stalin's heavy hand. This is familiar ground. Roberts passes quickly over Molotov's life and activities before 1939 while reminding us that Molotov was a faithful supporter of Stalin in all major domestic policy decisions from collectivization to the purges and mass terror. Molotov's service as head of the Communist International is not touched upon. Nor is much space allotted to Molotov's relations with Communist parties after World War II. Roberts attributes the decision in 1939 to replace Maksim Litvinov with Molotov as foreign commissar to Stalin's displeasure over the pace of negotiations with Britain and France on a treaty of alliance. Roberts mentions the differences between Litvinov's concept...