ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an analysis of a difficult adaptation to the new situation in Eastern Europe. For the French Third Republic, for the British Empire, but very soon for the US government, the most important stakes were to keep the Russian Empire fighting among the Entente, to reinforce the Russian military capacities and to rely on Russia’s support on the Western front. The French political circles had to suddenly a new strategic situation and a chaotic political configuration in Eastern Europe. The French political circles were firmly committed to ensuring that the French–Russian alliance was developed enough to keep Russia away from the German influence as much as possible. The allied intervention in Russia triggered reticent reaction in the Western public opinion. The socialist circles were trying to obtain explanations on the purposes of war and to figure out whether or not France and Great Britain were at war against Russia.
