Containment in Europe

Truman made a key speech to the US Congress on 12 March 1947. In this speech he put forward the belief that the United States had the obligation to ‘support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures’. This became known as the ‘Truman Doctrine’. 

Truman Doctrine 

The Truman Doctrine was a radical change in US foreign policy, a policy which had been traditionally isolationist. Truman’s new ‘doctrine’ was in response to the unstable situations in Turkey and, in particular, Greece. At the end of the war the British had restored the Greek monarchy, but Communist guerrillas continued to resist in the countryside. The British government could no longer offer assistance to the Greek government or support the Greek government and army financially, as its own economy had been devastated by the war, leaving the British government £3000 million in debt. 

 

Marshall Plan

The Marshall Plan was designed to give immediate economic help to Europe. The problem of whether or not to ‘allow’ the Soviets to join the plan, or indeed to avoid specifically excluding them, was solved by setting down strict criteria to qualify for economic aid. This involved allowing the United States to investigate the financial records of applicant countries. The USSR would never tolerate this condition. 

 

Thus, the United States invited the USSR to join the Marshall Plan and claimed that this ‘aid’ was not directed at, or against, any country or doctrine. The stated aims of Marshall Plan aid were to: 

  • revive European economies so that political and social stability could ensue 

  • safeguard the future of the US economy. 

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However, as you have seen, the bill allocating the four-year aid programme of $17 billion did not pass the US Congress until March 1948. The eventual success of the bill was mainly in reaction to the Czech Coup of February 1948. 

 

Berlin Blockade

During the blockade, American and British planes flew more than 200 000 flights to Berlin in 320 days, and delivered vital supplies of food and coal to 2.2 million West Berliners. Always, there was the threat of a Soviet military response. By early 1949, it was clear that Stalin’s gamble was failing, and he finally ended the blockade in May of that year.