Chapter 3

• Warnings of Dean G. Acheson (July 1945)


  - European situation mirrored the wider international threat posed to capitalist democracies

  - Railway and power systems on the continent had collapsed

  - Financial system had completely stalled

  - Conditions were perfect for the spread of communism
• Escalation of US involvement: 1947 - 1948


  - US Strategic planning began to promote the idea of unity within Western Europe

  - The USA was helped to become more involved in Europe by its 'special relationship' with Britain

  - The US Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Clayton, George Kennan and George Marshall urged the American government and people to invest money into Europe for 3 reasons:

  1. Containment in Europe

  2. To restore Europe's economic strength (Kennan)

  3. Prevent the loss of the European market for American goods (Clayton)

  
  

  - The USA sent $ 13.5 billion in goods, money, and loans to a war-torn Europe.

  - A condition of the aid was that some of it had to be spent on buying US Imports and share economic information with the USA
• Why was there mutual support between Britain and the US in their motives to use the 'special relationship'

  • America needed the UK's influence in Europe as a route into continental affairs
  • Britain needed the USA's power to help it preserve its own global status and security
• Which two influential US officials reported on the desperate state of Western Europe in May 1947?

  William L Clayton (Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs) and George Kennan
• Why did William L Clayton think that problems with the economies of Western Europe would damage the US economy?

  Loss of markets for American goods and subsequent increase in unemployment

  
  

  Clayton argued:

  - Europe was steadily deteriorating

  - Millions were facing the prospect of starvation

  - A substantial increase in aid was needed or else it would disintegrate
• What tone and emphasis did Clayton's report use to convince the US government to commit resources to Europe?

  Urgent, alarmist and exaggerated economic importance of Europe
• What did Kennan's Policy Planning Staff (PPS) group conclude about the threat of communist activities in Western Europe?


  Didn't see communist activities as a basic problem - Thought the real issue was the impact of WWII on the economic, political + social structure of Europe
• When and where was the Marshall Plan unveiled?

  5 June 1947

  - at Harvard University
• What 3-word name was the Marshall Plan known as?

  The European Recovery Programme
• How does George Marshall attempt to portray the European Recovery Programme as not ideologically influenced or anti-Soviet?

  He stated that 'our policy is not directed against any country or doctrine...
• How much money, to how many countries, was provided between 1947 - 1952?


  $13.5 billion to 16 countries
• What two conditions were there for countries in receipt of Marshall Aid?

  Some of aid had to spent on US goods

  Had to share economic information with USA
• In what two ways was Marshall Aid intended to reinforce Truman's containment policy?

  Create a stable European bloc by promoting European unity, prevent conditions from developing in Western Europe which would make communism more attractive
• Why was USA worried about the growth of communism in France?

  French Communist Party had 1.7 million members by 1947
• Number of Italian Communist Party members (1947)


  2.3 million
• How did the USSR respond to the Truman Doctrine + Marshall Plan

  - Cominform 1947

  - Zhdanov Doctrine 1947

  
  

  - Comecon 1949:

  - Controlled by the USSR.

  - Aimed to coordinate economies of communist countries.

  - Ensured that Stalinist state-owned economies were imposed in Eastern Europe.
• Soviet view of the Marshall Plan

  It was a clear example of American "dollar imperialism" attempting to undermine their sphere of influence

  - Worried as Czechoslovakia and Hungary not fully under communist control so could be removed from Soviet control if influenced by Western capitalist economies
• What did Stalin do to those E European countries that expressed interest in Marshall aid?

  Ordered to reverse their decisions, greater tightening of Soviet control(Sept 1947 established Cominform)
• How did the Marshall plan mark a shift in US policy towards Germany and Berlin?


  Suggested the US recognised that a strong German economy was fundamental to the development of European economic recovery
• Impact of the Marshall Plan

  - Indicated a shift in US thinking - America was fully committed to an involvement in Europe

  - One factor in aiding Western Europe was to stop Communism spreading into democratic countries like France and Italy

  - US was motivated by national self interest - they wanted to advance their national interests in terms of trade

  - Marshall Aid led to the creation of a divided Europe based on ideological and economic reasons

  - Marshall Aid helped Western Europe (including the Western parts of Germany/ Berlin) but Stalin refused to allow countries in his sphere of influence to accept the aid.
• When was the Czechoslovakian Crisis

  1948
• Reason why Czechoslovakia did not accept Marshall Aid after initially expressing interest

  - Czechoslovakian leaders were summoned to Moscow

  - Stalin ordered them to change their mind
• America's reaction to Czechoslovakia's fall to communism

  - Suspicious of Jan Masaryk's death 1948

  - Congress approved an additional $5 billion for Marshall Aid

  - Isolationist to Interventionist
• When was the Paris Peace Conference? + Purpose

  July 1947

  - Draw up treaties for the defeated European powers
• Countries with treaties drafted for them and signed at Paris Peace Conference 1947

  - Italy

  - Bulgaria

  - Hungary

  - Romania

  
  

  Did not include: Germany + Austria
• Clauses included in the treaties for defeated powers : Paris Peace Conference 1947

  - Territorial adjustments

  - Reparations payments

  - Anti-fascist requirements for post-War governments
• Reason for Molotov's withdrawal from the Paris Peace Conference


  Protest against the Marshall Plan's hold in Eastern Europe
• When was the London conference and what was decided?

  June 1948

  Germany should have its own constituent assembly
• Which policy maker was wary of increased involvement in Germany?

  Kennan
• What happened March 1947 making a divided Germany more apparent?


  Moscow Council of Foreign Ministers broke up, failing to reach firm agreement on peace treaty with Germany
• Why did most policy makers reject idea of unified Germany?

  - It led to the creation of a west German state and the division of Europe into two ideological, economic and strategic camps.

  - It also laid the foundation for the further division of Europe
• When was Bizonia formed?

  1947
• New currency introduced in West Germany

  1948