 Beneš, meanwhile, focused on pursuing a Czechoslovakia-Soviet alliance.The death of Sikorski that year was another major blow to the planned federation, as he was seen as the plan's major supporter in the international scene.In December 1943, a new Treaty of Alliance (for 20 years) was signed between the Czechoslovak government in exile and the Soviet Union in Moscow, and a Treaty of Military Co-operation between the two followed next spring.