On 2 September 1921, in Christiania (Oslo), the RSFSR and Norway sign the Preliminary Agreement — the temporary commercial understanding restoring trade relations before full diplomatic ties.

Signatories are P. M. Kerzhentsev (RSFSR) and J. L. Mowinckel (Norway). The document provides for exchange of official delegations (up to 20 persons), commercial agents and recognition of the Soviet delegation as the sole representative of the Russian state in Norway.

The authentic English text regulates shipping, transit, post and telegraph. Ratifications followed quickly (VTsIK 19 September; Storting 30 September); the agreement was registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series.

It amounted to Norway’s de facto recognition of Soviet Russia, until the 1925 trade treaty.

For Nordic–Soviet relations, 2 September 1921 marks the Christiania signature.

The text is published in Soviet collections and on WorldLII (LNTS).

The Norway–RSFSR Preliminary Agreement of 2 September 1921 remains the commercial recognition milestone.

Image: Oslo; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Norway–RSFSR Preliminary Agreement (1921). Treaty text: Istmat — Temporary Agreement Russia–Norway (2 September 1921).