USA policy towards Britain and Europe

USAs initial approach

• was based on the intention to work towards the reconstruction of a democratic region whose members would be committed to mutual cooperation

• the USA sis not envisage any long term military or political entanglement in Europe for any longer than the time it would take to establish political and economic reconstruction there 

USA and Europe

• nor was there any indication that the USA regarded Britain as the spring board for the development of a global power itself 

• 1945, Acheson warned that the problem in Europe mirrored a wider international problem , which represented a threat to the stability of international democracy of capitalism 

• in Europe, Acheson argued, the railway and power systems had collapsed and the financial system had come to a complete standstill 

• there was chaos in the foundations of a structured and ordered society 

• the issue became not only of the creation of democratic post war states, but of the economic and social survival of European states 

William L clayton 

• had a gloomy assessment of the conditions in Europe 

• he concluded that Europe was steadily deteriorating as millions of people faced the prospect of starvation 

• he argued that without a substantial increase in aid from the USA, Europe would experience social, economic and political disintegration on a regional scale 

unity within Europe 

• by 1947, us strategic planning on Europe was focused not only on ensuring economic recovery in the wake of the second world war but also promoting unity within Europe

• this would lead to a stable and independent bloc of pro-American states 

• by 1947, the USA had reached the conclusion that only western Europe could be moulded into his and to this extent had committed itself tot he notion of a divided Europe  

special relationship between Britain and the USA

• USAs route into Europe came from its special relationship with Britain

• Britain represented a politically stable state amid the other less stable mainland European states

• Britain was the driving force for maintaining this relationship

• Britain wanted to preserve its international status , its relationship with USA meant that they had security

• Britain did not want to become entirely dependent on the USA and wanted their relationship to be one of mutual support

• the USA needed Britain and its role of influence across Europe just as much as Britain needed the USA

• USA had to form relationship with western powers and Britain was most receptive to these advances

• other western states were faced with left wing socialist political groups who appeared less reliable than the British labour movement

• consensus politics were in place in Britain and this meant that Britain was a state that the USA could do business with

Dean G Acheson

• was one of the key architects in the Marshall plan and us secretary of state from 1949 to 1953

• he had a key role in the formulation of American policy towards Europe

• committed to policy of containment and to ensuring that the USAs interests in Europe were guaranteed by making its commitment manageable and effective

interview by harry Truman , broadcasts on us radio ; he comments on the consequences for the USA if there was to be some form of disintegration in Europe

• - if communism is allowed to absorb the free nations, we would be isolated from our sources of supply and detached from our friends

• then we would have to take defence measures which might really bankrupt our economy and change our way of life s that America would be recognised no longer

• that’s the very thing were trying to keep from happening