A Short History of the United States (1945: Vestul si Rusia) O Scurtã Istorie a Statelor Unite ( 3 )

A Short History of the United States (1945: Vestul si Rusia)

O Scurtã Istorie a Statelor Unite ( 3 )

America takes a firm stand

American sentiment toward Russia, at first slowly, then rapidly, changed.

The country lagged for a time behind Truman, who, outraged by Stalin’s duplicity, exclaimed even in 1945 : “It’s time to stop babying the Soviets !”.

In March, 1946, Winston Churchill visited Fulton, Missouri, to deliver a speech denouncing Russian aggression and calling on the West to resist.

Much American sentiment was shocked, but Truman on the platform and many leaders elsewhere applauded.

Stalin replied to Churchill on April 30 by declaring that “international reaction” was planning a new war.

But he revealed more of his hand when, on August 12, he sent Turkey a note demanding a share in the control of the Dardanelles.

In Paris, Byrnes struggled all summer with the Russians in the Conference of Big Four foreign ministers, and on August 15 openly denounced their “repeated abuse and misrepresentation” of American policy.

A dramatic occurrence lighted up the changing situation.

While Byrnes was contending with Molotov and our government was expostulating with Communist-led Yugoslavia for the shooting down of three unarmed American planes, Secretary Wallace prepared a speech which he delivered September 12 in Madison Square Garden vigorously attacking the “get-tough-with-Russia policy”.

Truman had indiscreetly approved the written text without reading it carefully.

Secretary Byrnes, angered by what he regarded as a stab in the back, served notice that if Wallace did not resign he would ; and Truman at once ousted Wallace on the ground of a “fundamental conflict” in foreign policy views.

Public sentiment upheld Truman.

Feeling between Byrnes and the President, however, remained strained.

Their intercourse was less candid than it should have been, and early in 1947 Byrnes resigned on the ground of ill-health, giving way to one of the truly great figures of the period, General George Marshall.

Because the Paris Conference reached no agreement on Germany and Austria, Russia was left with powerful forces holding all Eastern Europe and menacing the West.

That fall France adopted a new Constitution ; and when, in November, Communists seized the largest bloc of seats in the new National Assembly, a tremor ran through the free nations.

But the focal point of uneasiness was now Germany.

The Russian policy was to drain from Germany, as reparations, large quantities of manufactured goods, to prevent or delay German recovery, and by systematically producing poverty, disorganization, and despair, cause the people to turn to Communism.

The Anglo-American policy, on the contrary, was to restore Germany to industrial health, re-establish prosperity, maintain order, and train the people in political democracy.

Western Germany had a population of about 45,000,000 people ; Eastern Germany, about 17,000,000.

A large and constant influx of refugees swelled the West German numbers.

Normally East Germany would have sent foodstuffs to the rest of the country, but the Russians cut off such shipments.

The Western Powers therefore had to import great quantities of food for their various zones, America and Britain shouldering the heavy burden.

The essential result was that as fast as the West pumped money and resources into their two thirds of the country, Russia pumped equivalent amounts out of her one third.

This was an intolerable situation.

The Allied Control Council in Berlin became the scene of incessant bickering between the Anglo-American and the Russian representatives.

For the United States, General Lucius D. Clay furnished a signally statesmanlike administration, winning the regard of the German people and the admiration of British colleagues.

On December 2, 1946, the United States and Britain signed an agreement for an economic merger of their zones, and the nearly 80,000 square miles of “Bizonia” became much more viable than before.

This was a development disconcerting to the Russians.

So was the steady relaxation of Anglo-American controls over German industry, the embargo on shipments to Communist-controlled nations, and the general stimulation of German recovery.

The first free municipal elections since the rise of Hitler were held under American and British asupices in 1946.

Early in 1947 the breach over Germany became complete and open.

On March 10 the Council of Foreign Ministers began a conference in Moscow on Austro-German peace terms.

After acrimonious debate, it adjourned six weeks later without agreement on a single issue o importance.

Marshall, Bevin, and Bidault stood their ground without budging ; Molotov stood his.

When Marshall reported to the American people that Stalin had told him that all differences could be adjusted by conference, a guffaw rolled from coast to coast ; the public had taken Stalin’s measure.

The German question was temporarily shoved aside.

Deadlock was accepted there, and the immediate center of attention moved to Greece and Turkey.

( Extras din A Short History of The United States by Allan Nevins and Henry Steele Commager, Fifth Edition, Revised and Enlarged, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1968 )