Stalin ‘s calculations took into account the global balance and especially the situation in Europe. He refused to recognize the Democratic Republic of Vietnam as proclaimed by Ho Chi Minh in September 1945. Even though Ho had proved to be a trustworthy agent of the Comintern, Stalin’s European priorities made him assign a higher priority to helping the communists in France gain entry into the coalition government. With the outbreak of the Cold War, Stalin insisted that the East European states reject the offer of Marshall aid. The ever suspicious Stalin began to tighten his personal dominance of the ‘socialist camp’ in Europe through extensive purges of so-called cosmopolitans and others. This was also related to the confrontation with Tito and his expulsion from the socialist camp. Mao and the Chinese could not be treated in the same way. China was simply too big and the independent national character of its revolution as led by Mao was too well established.