THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND THE QUESTION OF KAZAKHSTAN’S HISTORY

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THE SOVIET HISTORIOGRAPHY AND
Prohibitions on foreign scientific relations continued in different ways
until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Historians were mainly sent
to Socialist countries and scientists were invited from these countries.
Numerous foreign publications, which were opposed to Soviet
ideology, were provided to the most famous of scientists to supply
the appropriate criticisms.
When historians received an official invitation to go abroad, it was
necessary to discuss it with representatives of communist party and
with the officials of the organization. In fact, such discussions would
take place in the Central Committee of Communist Party.
In this regard, the experience that Soviet historian Tarle 319 had is
interesting. “Professor of history sciences E.V. Tarle was invited to
the Sorbonne University in France to teach students. In order to get
permission for this work, Tarle wrote a letter to the Head of the Soviet
National Commissariat V. M. Molotov. Molotov asked the Ministry of
Education about Tarle’s personality. The answer was:
«Confidential,
Personally to Molotov
I do not find it appropriate for E. V. Tarle to be allowed to work at
the Sorbonne University. In my point of view, this man is dangerous and
he conceals his political identity. According to my estimations he is not
even a real Marxist. I talked about it to The National Commissariat of
Internal Affairs (NKVD) and to the governing body of the University. Both
of them think that Pr. Tarle shouldn’t go abroad». Bubnov
In 10 September 1935, Tarle’s invitation was discussed at the meeting
of the Central Committee of the SBKP. The decision was: «To postpone
the visit of Pr. Tarle in Paris» 320 .
In the USSR, visits abroad by scientists were generally controlled,
planned, and organized by Moscow. They were taught specific measures
Феномен Kaпицa”, Социaлные и гумaнитaрные нaуки. Отечественнaя и
зaрубежнaялитерaтурa. Реферaтиный журнaл, Нaуковедение.Серия 8,
Moscow, 1997. p. 108.
319 Prof. Tarle is one of old generation historians of USSR. He was a member of
department of political sciences of Columbia Academia in US, member of three
important french community, member of associaton of Soviet Friends in France,
deputy director of Associaton of English-Soviet Culturel Approaches and
had contacts with important historical journals in US. See: Кaгaнович, В. С., “К
биогрaфии Е. В. Taрле (конец 20-х-нaчaло 30-х гг.)”, Отечественнaя история,
Moscow, 1993, No. 4, pp. 84-99.
320 Есaков, В. Д., “Триписьмa Е. В. Тaрлевождям (1934-1938 гг.)”,
Отечественнaя история, Moscow, 1999. No. 6, p. 109.