18. The Defensive Perimeter Strategy and NSC-68

(DPS) What did Dean Acheson become more focussed on in early 1950?

Military security and the containment of Communism in South East Asia

(DPS) What did Dean Acheson also emphasise about Japan?

That the continued military defence of Japan was the USA's responsibility

(DPS) What did Acheson develop to deal with these issues?

The Defensive Perimeter Strategy

(DPS) When was Acheson's Defensive Perimeter speech?

January 1950

(DPS) What was the Defensive Perimeter?

A US military defence covering which would act as a 'wall' against Communism

(DPS) Which countries did the Defensive Perimeter cover?

It stretched from Japan, to the Philippines to the Aleutian Islands

(DPS) Which countries did the DPS omit?

Korea and Taiwan

(DPS) What did the DPS essentially state about South Korea?

That the US wouldn't interfere with its political affairs

(DPS) What did North Korea see this announcement as?

A green light to invade South Korea

(NSC-68) What was the NSC?

The National Security Council

(NSC-68) What events caused the NSC to review fundamental US objectives and priorities (2 things)?

- The USSR's development of the nuclear bomb in September 1949
- The Communist takeover in China in 1949

(NSC-68) When was the NSC report issued to Truman in a secret letter?

April 1950

(NSC-68) When was the NSC report finally approved?

September 1950

(NSC-68- Content) What did the NSC report say about the Soviet perspective of the world?

That it was "fanatic" and non-compromising

(NSC-68- Content) What did the NSC report say about the Soviet aims for word domination?

That it wanted to "impose absolute authority over the rest of the world"

(NSC-68- Content) Did the NSC report say that the USSR threatened to American way of life?

Yes

(NSC-68- Content) What figure did the NSC report recommend military spending to be increased to?

$35-50 billion from $13 billion

(NSC-68- Content) What did the NSC report recommend Truman to increase (3 things)?

- The US atomic capabilities
- The US military
- The US economy

(NSC-68- Content) What threats did the NSC report tell Truman to be ready for (3 things)?

- A Soviet show of aggression
- Soviet sabotage
- Soviet espionage

(NSC-68- Content) What did the NSC report urge Truman to do to reduce Communist influences worldwide?

Support non-communist states and programmes which reduced Moscow's power

(NSC-68- Content) What did the NSC advise Truman to warn the general public about?

The great threat posed by the Soviets

(NSC-68- Content) What did the NSC believe the public would support more after this warning?

Increased military spending

(NSC-68) How was the NSC report important?

It was influential in making the US more forceful in their foreign policy and having a greater understanding of the Soviet threat