The author endeavors to chart the historical and juridical evolution of the Soviet Republics as factors in Soviet foreign policy, to analyze the motivations, objectives, and concrete diplomatic benefits of the Amendments of 1944, and to record and describe the juridical, institutional, and external implementations of these Amendments, both in the constitutional and diplomatic structure of the Union Government and in the Republics. from the preface

The author endeavors to chart the historical and juridical evolution of the Soviet Republics as factors in Soviet foreign policy, to analyze the motivations, objectives, and concrete diplomatic benefits of the Amendments of 1944, and to record and describe the juridical, institutional, and external implementations of these Amendments, both in the constitutional and diplomatic structure of the Union Government and in the Republics. from the preface