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Tehran Conference
Churchill:
The USSR could absorb part of eastern Poland while the latter would gain part of eastern Germany
Roosevelt did not object but did not publicly agree so as not to alieanate Polish - US votes (7 mil at the time) -
Yalta Conference
a) US, Britain reject revision of Polish border
b) Inclusion of London Poles inside Lublin Committee, democratic elections
- Stalin signed the Declaration of Liberated Europe which pledged free elections and democratic institutions -
Potsdam Conference
Us practiced atomic diplomacy here, where Truman offered Stalin information about the atomic bomb in return for the reorganisation of Soviet-controlled govern,=ments in Bulgaria and Romania -
Kennan's Long Telegramme
Kannan's analysis of Soviet foreign policy emphasized the role of communist ideology. He saw the Soviet leadership as suspicious and aggressive; insecurities that stemmed from their view of the outside world as virulently (fatally) anti-communist. Given this outlook, there could be no compromise with the USSR.
This had an impact on US policy makers. Decisive factor in Truman's administration's change of course to a policy of firmness towards USSR -
Iron Curtain Speech
Some of the themes discussed in the Long Telegramme and privately discussed by officials were now aired to the US public for the first time.
- hardened the attitude of US public
- Stalin called Churchill a warmonger and accused him of trying to start WWIII but there was no concrete follow-up action by Stalin -
Truman demands Russia leave Iran
The Iranian government had requested the withdrawal if the occupant forces (US, British, USSR) from Iran by March 1946 but even as the two Allies' forces departed, Soviet forces remained.
US took issue to UN and in May Soviet troops began to retreat. Soviets saw this unilateral action as indication of being unwilling to continue postwar cooperation. -
The Clifford-Elsey Report
Truman commissioned two of his advisors to review Soviet-US relations. The report highlighted examples of Soviet aggression in Iran and Manchuria as well as identified ideology and not security concerns as the driver of Soviet foreign policy.
- reflects US perception of USSR which had crystallised by this point in time
- acted as justification for US perception of Soviets -
Truman Doctrine announced
laid foundation for formulation of Marshall Plan
-No immediate respose from or change in US relations with USSR
- accompanied by increase in US military preparedness in the form of the National Security Act as a precautionary measure
- Did not translate into US action against Soviets -
Marshall Plan announced
- Primary motive was political: contain communism
- Secondary motive: create a captive European market for US goods Soviets sent 100-man delegation headed by Molotov to participate in discussion about the Plan However, US insistence of economic coordination which meant that the Soviets would have to give up exclusive control of their economy, unacceptable to Soviets Soviets saw this as US attempt to create an American economic empire in Eastern Europe -cemented economic schism
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Congress approves Marshall aid
In Feb 1948, before the Congress voted on the legislation for the Plan, communists seized power in Czechoslovakia. This proved to have a catalytic effect on the implementation of the Marshall Plan. The Senate approved the Plan in March 1948by a vote of 69-17, while the House of Representatives by 318-75 -
Brussels Pact
predecessor of NATO
- formed by five European countries (Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg)
- bound them to come and help any participant if one was attacked in Europe -
Deutschemark established as common currency in Germany
- By US, Britain and France(tacit)
- the creation of a single currency was rightly interpreted by Stalin as a signal for the establishment of the new Germany in the West
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Berlin Blockade
Russia blocked the roads and rail routes to Berlin
- The blockade came close to the first armed clash between the two sides and represented a point where the Cold War might have turned hot
- Also increased feeling of military insecurity in northern, western, & Southern Europe. There was pressure for a common military force to defend the region
- microcosm of division in Europe -
NATO founded
Began military split while the formation of theWarsaw Pact im response to the West Germany entry into NATO 1955 formalised this schism. However, Warsaw Pact was not an immediate respose to NATO
-Not taken seriously as a military alliance until 1950; insignificant in starting the CW
-remained nothing more than a political association until the KW of 1950, when an integrated military structure was set up
