v Intro- From bad to worse- Ike’s Administration:

Ø Key contributing issues to deteriorating relations:

§ West German rearmament by West;

§ Soviet repression of ’56 Hungarian Revolution;

§ The Berlin Crisis.

Ø Korean War ended thru Ike’s determined diplomacy:

§ But US-Chinese relations remain frigid:

§ Made worse by Taiwan Straits crisis;

Ø US-Soviet competition in 3^rd World escalates:

§ US involvement in Indochina grows;

§ Middle East tensions rise (USSR & Egypt grow closer);

§ Soviet interest in Cuba grows w/Castro’s rise to power;

§ US intervention in Congo’s internal affairs;

Ø As a result – Cold War becomes global in scope:

§ US – USSR friction grows;

§ When Soviets gain Nuclear Weapons:

· Risk of escalation to Nuclear War increases;

v Lost Opportunity – the death of Stalin (5 March 1953):

Ø Attempts to ease US-USSR deteriorating relations:

§ Malenkov states willingness to pursue peaceful relations ;

§ Offers to discus force reductions in Europe;

Ø Ike expressed willingness to discuss arms reductions:

§ Sees encouraging conditions for improved relations;

§ Seeks to test Soviet good will:

· Soviets to allow free elections in East Europe;

· Sign Austrian peace treaty;

· Cease anticolonial activity in Asia;

Ø Churchill supports Ike’s 16 April’53 speech:

§ Proposed summit conference to resolve CW frictions;

Ø Dulles dead set against rapprochement:

§ Rapprochement with Soviets would only weaken West;

§ States latest Soviet effort only tactical ploy:

· Upset West’s effort to rearm West Germany;

· Undermine West German admission to NATO;

§ Chancellor Adenauer also against détente’ initiatives:

· Convinced end result would be:

¨ permanent Soviet presence in East &Central Europe;

¨ present obstacle to West German sovereignty;

¨ inhibit integration of West Germany into West;

Ø US domestic politics also intrude into any US-USSR talks:

§ Red Scare fall out has Dulles concerned;

§ Avoid appeasement label that smeared Truman;

§ Says Soviet peace initiatives only tactical move;

§ Ike unwilling to counter Dulles in Red Scare atmosphere:

§ Initiates anti-subversive program in pro-active move;

§ 1950s become era of anti-communist Political Correctness

· many loyal citizens lose Federal security clearances;

· many others are smeared in Congressional hearings;

· McCarthy overreaches during Army hearings on TV;

Ø Flawed National Security Strategy for Eastern Europe:

§ Dulles: Stalin’s death presents opportunity for advantage:

· Dump containment for aggressive roll back strategy;

· Free East European states from Soviet domination:

¨ Chance to push Soviets on defensive;

¨ Careful caveat: “by all peaceful means available;”

· Problem: Eastern rebels failed to see subtle distinction:

¨ Soviet tanks quell East Berlin workers in June 1953;

¨ Lack of material US support for future uprisings;

§ Exception: Tito’s Yugoslavia kept independent of USSR:

· US sees opportunity to exploit Tito’s independence:

· Aim: encourage other East Europe states to follow suit;

v Berlin Conference – Conflicting US-USSR objectives:

Ø Foreign ministers meet to discuss Central Europe issues:

§ France forces US to make good faith negotiating effort;

§ Resolution of the German problem central to meeting;

Ø No agreement on Germany emerged – objectives in conflict:

§ West insists free elections are prerequisite to unification:

· Required for both Germanys – (Soviets reject);

· Soviets demand that reunified German be neutralized:

¨ Also insisted EDC discarded & NATO disbanded;

¨ Soviets proposed Euro Security Pact as substitute;

¨ West rejects – (why)?

Ø Conference ends in failure:

§ West’s interim solution to German unification issue?

· Grant full sovereignty to West Germany;

· Rearm & admit to NATO (in 1955);

§ Soviet Response? (Warsaw Pact);

Ø Result: Germany & Europe divided for rest of Cold War;

§ Failed opportunity?

v New National Security Strategy: Massive Retaliation:

Ø Dulles: Nuclear retaliation is viable option for response:

§ At any level: strategic or tactical;

§ New term enters strategic lexicon: Brinkmanship;

· Implications?

Ø “New Look” (at what?):

§ New military strategy drives force structure in support:

· Nuclear weapons now key to new strategy;

· Conventional forces relegated to “trip wire” status;

· Therefore: conventional forces not required:

¨ Justifies major cuts in defense budget;

¨ Which service benefits most?

¨ Reaction of other armed services?

Ø Soviet Response?

§ Accelerates Soviet nuclear program to catch up:

· 1955: Soviet arsenal raised to 300-400 nuclear devices;

· Mislead Intell & AF on Bomber#s at Moscow air show;

· US over reacts to reinforce false “Bomber gap” myth;

· Reality: Soviets concentrate on construction of missiles;

Ø Application of New Look to Third World problems:

§ As limits of massive retaliation become evident:

· Role of CIA expanded beyond intell collection;

· Covert action emerges as Ike’s instrument of choice:

§ Key Third World examples:

· Iran – 1953: Shah installed by CIA support in coup;

· Guatemala – 1953: Arbenz overthrown thru CIA;

· Congo – 1960 – CIA arranges removal of Lamumba;

§ Indochina & the impact of Dien Bien Phu – 1954:

· Objective: prevent expansion of communism;

¨ Prevent French collapse w/military assist if needed;

¨ Fill void left by defeated French if necessary;

¨ Falling “Domino Theory:” Burma, Thailand, etc.

¨ Massive Retaliation considered if China intervened:

Ø CJCS recommends Tac-Nuc strike from CVAs;

Ø Dulles warns China: “Stay out!”

§ Protect US interests & security;

Ø Dulles acts to tone down Ike’s aggressive leaning:

§ Ike desires to provide secret CAS to French;

¨ Congress strongly opposed to US involvement:

Ø Yet another Asian land war (like Korea);

Ø JCS agrees: devoid of mil. Object. & diversion;

¨ Britain unwilling to intervene:

Ø Why support French colony?

¨ US military assistance to French conditional:

Ø Grant independence & stay the course;

Ø Avoid giving in to compromise at Geneva talks;

¨ Viet Minh victory at Dien Bien Phu changes all;

· Geneva Accords:

¨ July’54: temporary settlement achieved:

Ø French recognize independence of:

§ Cambodia and Laos;

Ø Vietnam partitioned at 17^th parallel;

§ (until elections scheduled for June ’56);

§ Communist control North – Hanoi:

· Led by Ho Chi Minh;

§ Non-communist minority in South- Saigon;

· Boa Dai installed by French as ruler;

¨ US & South Vietnam refuse to accept accords:

Ø Provides military assistance to new president;

¨ By 1956: US replaced French as SVN’s protector;

Ø US military advisors train SVN’s army;

Ø $1.2 B in military assistance between 1954-59;

§ US bears 80% of military & 50% econ costs;

· Indochina: Ike to prevent Communists take-over:

¨ Ike convinces PM Diem to cancel elections for ‘56:

Ø Concluded that Ho Chi Minh would win – why?

Ø Diem holds phony National Referendum instead;

Ø 98% approve removal of Bao Dai & estab. RVN;

Ø Ike immediately recognizes new republic;

¨ Diem’s base of support? (Catholic minority & elite);

Ø Opposition? (and Diem’s label for opposition?);

¨ North commences infiltration into South;

v Dealing with Red China:

Ø Theory versus Reality:

§ Theory: One China Policy:

· Supported by US domestic China Lobby & China itself:

§ Reality: Two separate actually governments existed:

· Red China (Beijing) vs. Nationalist China (Taiwan);

§ Ike administration constrained by domestic politics:

· 2 China policy risked label of appeasement– why?

· Administration forced into hostile relationship;

· No recognition & trade embargo continued;

§ Furthermore: CIA conducts covert ops against mainland:

· Ops staged out of secret bases on islands off China;

· Creates extremely hostile environment leading to crisis;

Ø Quemoy – Matsu Crisis:

§ Sept 1954: Chinese begin shelling Islands – why?

§ Ike Administration reluctant to escalate crisis to war:

· Ike sends Dulles to Taiwan to defuse crisis;

¨ Compromises made w/Nationalists;

¨ Mutual Defense Treaty (US & Nationalist China);

Ø Implied condition: acceptance of status quo;

Ø De facto two China policy now in effect;

¨ Red China viewed treaty as threat to its sovereignty;

· Ike prepared to use Nuclear weapons if necessary:

¨ (Atom bomb the same as a bullet?);

¨ Tactical low yield weapons prepared for use;

¨ Chinese conclude US not bluffing – back down;

¨ May 1955: cease fire ended 1^st Taiwan Strait crisis;

Ø Emerging Sino-Soviet split:

§ US attempted to drive wedge between China & USSR

· Outline strategy as applied to Taiwan Straits crisis;

¨ USSR’s hard choices in a Nuclear “chess game:”

Ø back its ally or avoid the risk of war with US;

Ø US enjoyed Nuclear superiority at the time;

§ Soviets attempt to shore up relations w/China:

· Khrushchev give Beijing political & $$$ concessions;

· China still very disappointed with Soviet – why?

v Khrushchev’s De-Stalinization & its impact:

Ø Historical speech made 25 Feb 1956 (see Judge excerpt):

§ Broadside against Stalin’s purges & excesses:

· 1000s executed at Stalin’s whim & paranoia;

· Megalomania and “cult of the individual;”

§ Major foreign policy blunders on Stalin’s watch:

· Tito and Yugoslavia;

· Red China tensions;

· Hostile policies toward West;

§ Khrushchev states that war with West not inevitable;

· Pledges to pursue “peaceful coexistence” with West;

· Also peaceful competition;

§ Appeared willing to subordinate communist expansion:

· Promote improved relations with US;

· Khrushchev dissolves COMINFORM as evidence;

· Molotov forced to resign prior to Tito’s Moscow visit;

Ø Impact on West & Eastern Europe:

§ US welcomes de-Stalinization & rapprochement w/Yugo.

§ Waits for Soviets to loosen grip on its Eastern satellites;

§ Ike suspends U-2 flights over USSR to show good faith;

§ East –West relations look hopeful – (what happens?);

Ø Hungarian Revolution – Oct 1956:

§ Pent up resentment boils over first in Poland –June ’56;

§ Khrushchev reluctantly accepts Gomulka’s reforms;

· The Polish Solution survives Moscow’s pressure;

· Inspires similar actions in other East Europe states;

§ Hungarian students riot with more ambitious goals:

· Complete overthrow of communists government;

· See opportunity to rid Hungary of Soviet control;

· Imre Nagy announced end of one party state:

¨ Also intention to leave Warsaw Pact;

¨ Fighting between Rebels & Soviets begin;

§ Soviets appear to accept defeat & retreat to Austrian line:

· Merely a tactical move prior to major effort;

· 200K Soviet infantry & 5500 tanks then crush revolt;

· Nagy arrested & later executed;

· Janos Kadar installed by Moscow as ruler until 1989;

§ What is US response to Soviet actions in Hungary?

· Effect on credibility of Rollback Strategy?

v Developing Middle East crisis:

Ø Baghdad Pact established as “northern tier” against USSR:

§ Block Soviet expansion into Middle East;

Ø Nasser’s role in undermining this plan:

§ View himself as 20^th century Saladin;

· Lead united Arab confederation against west;

§ Refused to join Pact & turn to USSR for assistance;

· Soviets jump at chance to penetrate Middle East;

· Czechs act as Soviet proxy & provide arms to Egypt;

§ Nasser joins Arab alliance against Israel:

· Drops Nationalists China & recognizes Red China;

· Soviets effectively by-passed the Baghdad Pact;

Ø The Suez War:

§ Ike’s reaction to Nasser’s joining Soviet Block?

· Cut off $$$ for Aswan Dam project;

§ Nasser’s response?

· Nationalize Suez canal (Map p. 119);

§ British & French (in coordination w/Israel) intervene:

· Disastrous political results for both;

· Only able to capture Port Said;

· Nasser then able to scuttle ships & block canal:

· Reverse of intervention’s aim & strategic purpose;

Ø The Eisenhower Doctrine:

§ Nasser gained prestige even though he lost Suez war;

· Formed closer military & commercial ties w/Soviets;

§ Ike convinced USSR & Egyptian subversives key threat:

· Felt compelled to fill emergent vacuum in Middle East;

§ Ike requests Congress to endorse force option for the ME:

· Against attack by any nation under communist control;

· Also requested $200M/yr in economic/mil. assistance:

¨ For ME countries willing to resist Soviet expansion;

· Senate amends resolution to “is prepared” to use force;

§ Real threat to US ME interests was Nasser not communist;

§ Ike Doctrine against “communists inspired coup” include:

· Lebanon – 14K Marines following Kassim coup in Iraq;

· British-US intervention to prop up King Hussein of Jordan;

§ Ike achieved his goal of filling ME vacuum w/US power:

· NTL still unable to address main threat to ME stability:

¨ Arab – Israeli dispute over Palestine (to this day);

v Growing Soviet Power and Prestige:

Ø Khrushchev consolidates his domestic hold on power:

§ Resists attempts by Molotov & Malenkov to oust him;

§ Dismisses Def. Minister Zhukov after using his support;

§ Oust Bulganin & assumes Council chairmanship himself;

§ Resumed major reforms of Soviet system;

§ Pursues opportunities to enhance Soviet global prestige;

Ø Sputnik: Soviets first to launch satellites into space:

§ Payloads: 184 lbs first, then 1120 lbs with dog aboard;

§ Implication: Soviet missiles can also carry war heads;

Ø US Response: disappointment & humiliation:

§ Spurs national program to rapidly catch up;

§ National Defense Education Act of 1958 passed:

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