Marshall Aid Flashcards
At the end of the war, what were results with devastation created?
What speech worsened divisions, alongside situation in Greece, and what did Truman commit to containing?
Fighting across France, Netherlands, and Italy, with millions killed and refugees created after landings.
Questions arose once the war ended over reparation and
The USSR didn’t want to give up land.
On 5 March 1946, the Iron Curtain speech was made. Harry Truman was very suspicious of Stalin, and rebellion in Greece worsened relations.
Truman committed to defend free people from attempted subjugation by armed minorities on 12 March 1947 to prevent Communism spreading.
When did Marshall become Secretary of State, and when did he make a speech outlining needs for European recovery?
In January 1947 George C Marshall became Secretary of State. He worked closely with US diplomats Clayton and Kennan, and on 5 June 1947 made a Harvard Speech outlining the need for a European development plan.
When was the Paris summit and what were results?
When was Congress convinced, and when was ECA signed?
How much was given by 1951?
What were results of Marshall Aid?
West German economy to be stronger.
Sept 1947 Paris summit - $22b requested, but $17b agreed on by Truman. Soviet states didn’t accept the money. Congress offered support after Czechoslovakia Feb 1948 coup.
The European Cooperation Act was signed by April 3rd 1948. The EC Administration distributed money for government initiative and infrastructure.
Almost $13b was given by 1951.
Countries relied upon the US products and expertise, and created military ties and connections.
When did Marshall replaced James Byrnes as Secretary of State?
When did Truman approach congress for aid to Turkey and Greece, and what did he say to win them over?
Marshall replaced James Byrnes as Secretary of State, 21 January 1947. Byrnes had fulfilled the December treaties with Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Marshall was considered the organiser of victory by Churchill.
On 12 March, Truman approached Congress for £400m to Greece and £300m to Turkey.
He reminded them that Communism would spread with poverty, and the US had to prevent a domino effect.
Dean Acheson said Communism would spread from North Africa to Iran and West Europe. The plan was very popular in Congress.
Describe Marshall’s visit to the USSR in March 1947 and its results as he visited General Clay and returned to develop a recovery program.
In March 1947, Marshall was at a Foreign Ministers Conference, where he spoke to Stalin and learned of his intentions to wait for fall of Europe. He met General Clay on his way back, military governor of occupied Germany, who showed lack of supplies in West Germany. Marshall, on 28 April, visited the State Department and put policy-planning staff to work to develop a solution.
Kennan, director, suggested a recovery program to be organised in US and Europe to unify economies. The fear of the rise of French and Italian communists pushed Marshall Plan to be announced on 5 June 1947 by Marshall at Harvard University.
What was Ernest Bevin’s reaction to the Marshall Aid announcements?
What did he arrange with Georges Bidault?
Ernest Bevin, finding out about the Marshall Plan, was very pleased and considered it a lifeline, asking British Embassy Officials for clarification.
A foreign ministers meeting in Paris to meet Georges Bedault was arranged.
It was questioned as to whether the USSR and Warsaw Pact countries would receive aid, as the USSR had received Lend Lease during the war. The Institute of World Economy recommended aid, and Molotov convinced Stalin to visit the Paris conference on 26 June.
What did spies do during the developments of Marshall Aid, and how did this lead to Molotov storming out of the Paris conference?
Many spies worked for USSR, including Harold ‘Kim’ Philby, a hardworking London based agent. In 1947, spies exchanged information to London based Soviets about US’ intentions with the plan. On 30 June, a cable received Molotov from Andrei Vyshinsky showing US intentions to build up West Germany. On 3 July, the US was accused of creating division and Molotov stormed out of the Paris conference.
When did party bosses refuse aid in Eastern Europe, and which country had shown interest in aid? What was the USSR’s response?
7 July - party bosses not allowed aid in Eastern Europe, as aid wanted to create two camps.
Gottwald of Czechoslovakia realised it was too late to reverse their decision.
9 July - Stalin orders Gottwald and Jan Masaryk to visit, and they are told to refuse aid as it would isolate USSR.
11 July - Prague cancels aid.
Masaryk was distraught.
What did the USSR see the plan as evidence of?
On 12 July, what was discussed at the EEC conference, Paris?
USSR saw Marshall Plan as dollar imperialism. The US ambassador of Moscow stated that the USSR was declaring war.
12 July, European Economic Community Conference in Paris showed French concern over Germany’s power. The Greek wanted military support.
Paris Program approved in September promising agriculture and industry growth, and $17b in payments.
What were results of Marshall Aid?
The USSR established Cominform, where its first meeting was held in Szklanska, Poland, with Andrei Zhdanov, foreign minister, playing on Nazi fears by stating that the West wanted a return of a powerful Germany.
Uprising was held in France encouraged by the French Communists, with strikes of railways, coal mines, and electricity, leading to the Lille to Paris route being derailed, killing 20. French would have to stomp down on Communism to receive aid, and promised wage increases to workers.
The Americans gave dollars to funds in Europe, and Europeans consumed grain from Midwest and machinery for Fiat machines in US factories.
How did Czechoslovakia enter Communist control?
Masaryk felt betrayed by Washington, and Czechoslovakia’s harvest yield in 1947 was poor.
The Soviets offered grain and Cominform orders led to rallies being organised following 20 February. By 25 February 1948 a new Communist government was formed and Masaryk died two weeks later, falling from the Czech Foreign Ministry Roof.
In 1948 how did Congress finally accept the aid and which organisations were estalished?
On 3rd April, $5.3 billion was approved by Congress for Marshall Aid, and the European Cooperation Administration was set up, the body required for America to formalise requests for aid, recommend each country’s share, and held in distribution. The first shipments of food, fertilisers, and tractors arrived in the following weeks
What motivated the US to interfere with Italy’s April 1948 election? What did Truman approve?
In Italy, Palmiro Togliatti wanted the country to find its own path to Communism and the party garnered two million supporters. However, in May 1947 Communists were removed from government and formed coalitions with left wing parties. By April 1948, there was a general election and a letter writing campaign commenced from Italian Americans, with 10 million letters sent imploring Italians not to vote Communist. Truman, chairman of the National Security Council, approved the use of covert operations to prevent the communists from threatening national security in Italy, as requested by the CIA.
What were ‘black bag’ payments in Italy, and what encouraged Italians to vote Christian Democrat?
Money was passed to the Christian Democrats and to anti-Communist trade unions. $2-3 million was granted, and the money went towards pamphlets, posters, and election campaigning, ‘black-bag’ payments. Marshall kept this from the State Department’s ambassador in Rome, and those supporting the communists would be banned from moving to the US. Marshall said if Italy voted Communist, they would be excluded from the Marshall Plan.
How did the Pope create opposition to Communism in 1948, Italy?
In February Pope Pius XII asked the leader of Catholic Action to visit him at the Vatican and explained how important the election would be for Italy’s future. He discussed how Communists were atheists who destroyed Churches during the Spanish Civil War. Gedda created a Catholic network, the Civic Committees, across Italy, with propaganda pamphlets distributed. Many Italians couldn’t read, however, so political posters were made, alongside propaganda films in village squares.
Priests spoke out against the sins of Communism, and discussed holy war. 90% of Italians were members of the Church, and Italian women were especially affected, finally having the vote.
On 18 April the Christian Democrats won landslide victory and a majority in Parliament.
