§ Truman Assumes Office- April 1945:

¨ Expected to Continue Grand Alliance;

¨ Soon US & USSR enemies;

§ US Isolationism ends w/CW’s intensification;

¨ New US Policy: Containment;

¨ Reasons & causes still debated;

§ Truman’s Lack of Foreign Policy Experience:

¨ “Plain Spoken” or inept in diplomacy;

¨ Relies heavily on “hard Liner” advisors:

§ Leahy, Forrestal, Harriaman;

§ Churchill in particular great influence;

§ All press for tougher stance against Soviets;

¨ Truman & Churchill send tough message to Stalin:

§ Comply with Yalta Agreement;

§ Berates Molotov wrt lack of compliance;

§ Terminates Lend/Lease 11 May 1945;

§ Soviet harsh reaction predictable & in kind:

¨ Accuse Truman & Churchill of dictation to USSR;

¨ Take aggressive actions:

§ Arrest 16 Polish underground leaders;

§ Intensify Communization efforts:

¨ Bulgaria & Romania;

§ Conduct harsh exchange at UN conference;

¨ SECWAR Stimson & Amb Davies Concerned:

§ Convince Truman to ease up;

§ “A” Bomb not sure thing;

§ Japan still at War w/US:

¨ Still likely to need Soviet help;

¨ Truman sends Hopkins to patch things up:

§ Successful – US-Soviet tensions ease;

§ Stalin permits 3 London Poles in Gov.

§ Stalin accepts US dominance in Rio Pact;

§ Same for Japan & China;

§ Agrees to participate Int’l Trusteeship on Korea;

§ Drops Veto in UN Security Council talks;

§ UN Charter enacted 20 Dec 1945;

Potsdam- 17 July – 2 August 1945:

¨ Overall – success – Big Three Actions:

§ Establish Council of Foreign Ministers:

§ Draft WWII peace treaties intended to:

¨ Address territorial & political issues;

¨ “demilitarize, deNazify, & democratize”

§ Announce intent to try Nazi Leaders;

§ Agree to reparations compromise:

¨ (USSR drops $10B demand);

§ West accepts of Poland’s occupation of Ger:

¨ OK east of West-Neisse line;

¨ West boundary TBD;

¨ Issues with regard to (wrt) Defeat of Japan:

§ Stalin reaffirms intent to declare war on Japan;

§ Truman mentions “powerful new weapon”;

¨ Stalin likely already knows – why?

§ August 6: Atomic Bomb => Heroshima;

§ August 8: Soviets declare war on Japan;

§ August 9: Atomic Bomb => Nagasaki;

¨ Soviet invades Manchuria;

§ August 14: Japan surrenders.

Ø Reasons for Grand Alliance Decline:

§ As WWII ends- so does US- Soviet cooperation – why?

§ Soviet- US tensions rise at London Conference:

¨ Molotov demands wrt Romania & Bulgaria;

¨ Increased role wrt Japan’s administration:

§ Totally contrary to Potsdam;

¨ General confusion & disarray reign;

§ SECSTATE Byrnes rejects all Soviet demands;

§ Conference ends in failure & recriminations all around;

§ Other Soviet Actions exacerbating US-USSR tensions:

¨ Demand for free access to Bosporus & Dardanelles;

¨ Intimidation of Iran for oil concessions;

¨ Stalin’s speech re. “inevitable conflict with West”;

¨ USSR remains in Iran, Manchuria, Kuril Islands*;

¨ News of Soviet Spy ring wrt Atomic Bomb secrets;

¨ US reaction to all of above:

§ More & more mistrustful of Soviet intentions;

§ Anger over secret Yalta *agreements;

§ Truman loses GOP support (no conciliation);

§ Truman Admin becomes more confrontational;

¨ SECSTATE Byrnes loses influence;

§ US now takes more aggressive action toward Soviets:

¨ Defers recognition of Bulgaria (Greek reparations);

¨ Ensures Iran of US active support & security;

¨ Truman deploys USS Missouri to Instanbul:

§ Warning to Soviets wrt Turkey’s security;

¨ Administration abandons accommodation policy;

Ø Significance & impact of Kennan’s Long Telegram:

§ Rationale for more confrontational approach by US;

¨ Soviet hostility “inevitable & immutable” twd West:

¨ Totalitarian system justified – how?

§ Urged US to abandon accommodation for new policy:

¨ West must contain Soviet expansionism;

§ Cold War officially begins on Feb 28, 1946:

¨ Brynes speech announcing confrontation (p.70);

§ “… can’t allow aggression by coercion, …”

¨ March 5: Churchill famous “Iron Curtain” speech;

§ Stalin’s reaction: Churchill wants war (Judge);

§ Soviets comply with US demand to leave Iran:

· Tough US stands appears to work – Soviets back down;

· Lesson Learned for future firm US response to Soviets?

§ Grand Alliance is dead by March 1946: (why?)

§ Stalin’s interest in US loans, World Bank, & IMF;

§ Withdrawal from Manchuria timed & coordinated (how?);

§ Kremlin leadership purged – how & why?

§ US Atomic Weapons Monopoly & the Baruch Plan:

§ Unacceptable to Soviets (already aware of Plan – how?);

§ Acceptance of plan presents major risks to USSR – why?

¨ Loss of veto wrt Atomic issues;

¨ Required acceptance of International inspections;

¨ Potential constraints on Soviet nuclear development;

§ Soviet counter-proposal unacceptable to US – why?

¨ Impact on current US nuclear advantage?

§ Result: Atomic, then Nuclear, Arms Race inevitable;

Ø Significance & impact of Truman Doctrine:

§ Background: Brits inform US of intent to leave Greece:

¨ Too great an economic burden;

§ Greece on verge of collapse:

¨ Hostile Balkan neighboring states;

¨ Civil war (right vs. left);

§ Truman decides to assume responsibility for region:

¨ (what does he do?);

§ Truman delivers historic speech before Congress (Judge):

¨ See quote CW text p. 72 & in Judge);

¨ requests 300M for Greek security assistance;

§ 100M for Turkey;

§ Aid termed part of “global struggle” why?

· Against what?

¨ Doctrine now seen as 1^st step of ideological crusade;

¨ Cold War prosecuted in earnest from now on;

Ø Significance & impact of Marshall Plan:

§ Plan’s major goal & objectives;

§ Soviet & East European reaction;

¨ Soviet alternative;

§ Contrast: free market & democracies vs. COMECON:

¨ East European economies tied to Moscow;

¨ Political control & repression;

¨ CZ communist coup -1948 =>

§ no more democracies in East Europe;

Ø Post-WWII Germany remains the key problem:

§ Finalized break up of grand alliance (why?);

§ US/British fear Soviet plot to control all Germany;

¨ Halt reparations in kind payments to Soviets;

¨ Brynes promises restoration of self-government;

¨ US Forces remain in Germany;

§ Key measures taken to block Soviet expansion to West:

¨ Br/US establish Bizonia & economic reforms;

¨ Prep for Marshall Plan participation;

¨ Draft West German constitution (w/o Soviets);

§ Soviet reaction: Berlin Blockade:

¨ USSR concern of potential new German threat:

§ US economic links & influence on Germany;

¨ Action: block ground access & supplies to Berlin;

¨ Truman’s reaction: Berlin Airlift;

§ 60 Strategic bombers deployed to Britain:

¨ Implied threat to Soviets?

§ Major propaganda benefit for West – why?

¨ Soviet response to negative publicity?

¨ Impact on western attitudes toward USSR;

¨ Reunification becomes non-starter for 4 decades;

¨ Germany remains divided into 2 states for duration;

Ø Significance & impact of NSC-20 & Nuclear Deterrence:

§ National Security Council asserts Soviet global goal:

¨ Identifies US prime objective to counter Soviet goal:

¨ NSC-20 Strategy: counter & reduce Soviet influence:

§ “By all means possible,” to include: (CW p. 76):

§ liberate East Europe;

§ Dismantle Soviet military capability;

§ Dissolve Communist part in USSR;

§ NSC-30 - Nuclear Deterrence Strategy:

¨ Revolutionized US preparation for War (how?):

¨ “If you want peace, prepare for war.”

¨ Problem: how much is enough?

§ How many nuc weapons required to deter war?

§ Result: US-Soviet Nuclear Arms race;

¨ Aug 1949: USSR detonates “A” Bomb;

¨ The race is on;

Ø Significance & impact of NATO (Map p. 73):

§ Soviet post-WWII behavior viewed as threat to Europe:

¨ Threatened Europe viewed as counter to US interests;

§ Lesson Learned by US from WWII - (pay now or later):

¨ Better to prevent war than win after it begins;

§ Soviet detonation of A-Bomb re-enforces this attitude:

¨ Old isolation policy no longer applies;

§ Soviet A-Bombs & Badger Bombers;

§ Conclusion: US alliance in NATO to contain Soviet aggress.

¨ US must actively participate: both $ & Troops;

¨ Military commitment essential to Europe’s security;

§ Step by step approach to NATO’s establishment:

¨ British & US at Dunkirk – 1947;

¨ Brussels Pact – 1948;

¨ NATO – 1949 (US, Britain, Canada, + 13 W Europe;

¨ Article Five’s significance;

§ Soviet Response:

¨ Warsaw Pact;

Ø Significance & impact of The Loss of China (Map p.78):

§ US sticks with Nationalist (Chiang Kai-shek):

¨ Corrupt, inept, & unrepresentative;

§ Previous lost Opportunity?

¨ Jan 1945: Mao proposed talks to end civil war;

¨ FDR ignored;

§ Stalin also ambivalent wrt Red Chinese growing power;

¨ Kept promise to FDR made at Yalta;

¨ Priority: Geo-political over Ideological interests;

§ Truman NTL ignored Moscow-China gap in interests:

¨ Considers China puppet of Moscow;

¨ Blocks Red China from post-WWII control of cities:

§ Deploys USMC (52K) to hold for Nat. forces;

§ Provides $3Billion in military assist (1945-49);

§ Taiwan now integral part of containment policy

§ Stalin’s reaction:

¨ Supports Red China – facilitates deployment:

§ 215K Red China Troops infiltrate South China;

§ Later used to expel Nationalists Forces;

¨ (follows failed Nationalist’s offensive);

§ Mao ignored Stalin’s plea to stop at Yangtze;

¨ Stalin first to recognize newly declared Red China;

§ US scrambles to build New China Policy: Asia defense line;

§ Japan’s new role following loss of China:

§ Strategic partner against communist expansion in Asia;

¨ Offers forward base for US military in West Pacific;

¨ Aligned with West over USSR & China’s objections;

§ Indochina: impact of China’s loss:

§ Truman’s new found interest in Indochina;

§ US reconsiders FDR’s ideological reservations wrt France;

¨ Supports French post-WWII control of Indochina;

¨ DOD/DOS pressure precludes China as trustee;

§ NSC 48/1: China 1^st step in communist control of Asia;

§ Ho Chi Minh: Nationalist or Communist?

¨ Note: Communists supported liberation movements;

¨ USSR & China recognized Ho’s Democratic Repub.

§ French response: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia in Fr. Union;

¨ French install Boa Dai as “legit” ruler of Vietnam;

¨ US support French effort & by extension:

§ French Imperialism;

§ Significance & impact of NSC-68:

§ Grand military strategy for Containment Policy:

§ Premise: defeat anywhere is defeat everywhere (p.85);

§ Impact: US becoming “global policeman”;

¨ Strategy is Cold War blueprint for next 20 years;

§ Optimistic Assumption: year of maximum danger:

¨ Deadline for meeting NSC-68 objectives;

§ USSR’s proxy wars require containment;

¨ US must build-up of conventional forces;

¨ Major funding increase of 350% per year;

§ Taiwan’s role in NSC-68 strategy escalates:

¨ Covert raids against China coast;

§ Four Point Program: increased economic aid & invest.

¨ Assistance: Agriculture, health, infrastructure, etc.

§ Korean War’s role in Containment:

¨ North Korea’s invasion created opportunity;

¨ Also test of US resolve watched by the world;

§ Failure to act may encourage others (Europe);

¨ Gen Macarthur’s role: Pro: