Breakdown of Relations 1945-7 Flashcards
At the March-April 1947 Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers, how did Ernest Bevin save Bizonia?
Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers - Stalin suggests Germany comes under Four-Power Control, but Ernest Bevin, foreign secretary, fearing impact in British zone, suggested to USSR that no coal/steel imports would come, and they would have to pay reparations, to balance the budgets, revising the Potsdam agreement. This would happen until the Germans could pay for food and raw materials, and the USSR had to disagree. Willy Loth, ‘ a successful failure.’
Revisionist historian Williams Appleman believed:
US provocated the USSR, but plays down their threat in West/South Europe.
In Greece, September 1946, what was Stalin’s involvement, and what did Truman fear would happen to Italy?
Attacks launched against the British-backed government, funded by Stalin with soldiers, equipment, and money, as Communist resistance against the royalist government. Stalin tolerated Yugoslav, Bulgarian, and Albanian resistance. Truman feared that Communists may have similar rising in Italy and needed Congress to vote money.
In 1947 what did US politicians and journalists propose?
Famous US politicians and journalists proposed the economic integration of Western Europe, as this would prevent Communism from spreading and build a political structure West Germany, or the whole of Germany, could be integrated into.
Why had Britain’s US loan money dried by January 1947 and what did they announce on 21 February?
Britain’s money from the 1945 US loan had dried up. This was due to crisis in Egypt, India, and Palestine, and drawn out peace agreements, keeping troops in Germany, Italy, Asia, and the Middle East. Alongside this, poor weather and blizzards brought transport, industry, and coal mining to halt, and on 21 February, British informed Americans their aid to Greece and Turkey would come to standstill by March 31 1947.
What speech did Truman make on 12 March 1947?
Truman announces in a speech to Congress how one way of life represented the will of the majority with free elections and guarantees of individual liberty against the will of the minority imposed on the majority, ‘subjugation by armed minorities,’ which he promised to defend countries against.
What speech was made by George Marshall at Harvard University following Truman’s speech?
General George Marshall, after consultations with Washington, made a speech to Harvard claiming commitments of an aid package for Europe.
In June 1947 the Paris Conference began. Why did Molotov leave?
Stalin orders Molotov, foreign minister, to attend the conference in Paris to discuss further issues with the French and British for Marshall Aid, but when finding out the program was a joint programme, Stalin ordered Molotov to reject this and leave, fearing the US would establish power in Eastern Europe. Bevin noticed how his departure marked formation of a Western bloc.
At Paris, how many nations were involved?
What information was provided?
What did the French want, and why did the British protest to a customs union?
August 1947- Negotiations at Paris commence with sixteen European nations, excluding Eastern European states who were invited. Information on Bizonia provided by occupation authorities. The French wanted aid over Bizonia, and a customs union was to be established as long as it enabled France to control West German economy. The UK wanted sovereignty however, and opposed creating supranational organisations, despite end to tariffs with union.
In mid-August 1947 what was the US disappointed to hear, and what did Jefferson Caffery argue?
How much was requested, so who organised an emergency meeting in Paris in response?
The US were disappointed to find countries had established shopping lists, and Jefferson Caffery, the US ambassador in Paris, complained this created pre-war economy conditions with 270,000,000 in 17 uneconomic countries, dismissing their independence. They requested $29 billion which was way too much so Ernest Bevin organised an emergency meeting in Paris, with US officials establishing an Advisory Steering Committee to create US requirements.
Why were commitments in August hedged?
What revival was essential?
What developments had to be cooperated on?
Though 17 states promised to liberalise trade and negotiate the customs union, commitments were hedged by countries wanting independence.
Germany’s revival was declared essential, though to be carefully controlled.
Cooperation on setting hydroelectric sources, pooling railway wagons, setting up production targets for coal, agriculture, refined oil and steel.
In September 1947 meetings commenced in Poland for the USSR. What did Andrei Zhdanov announce?
Stalin invites Eastern European, Italian, and French Communist Parties to Szlarska Poręba meeting in Poland to discuss setting up Cominform, coordinating Communist parties across Europe.
Andrei Zhdanov claimed there was the imperialist US bloc, and the democratic USSR camp, where Communist parties had to take over, there could no longer be coalition.
Martin McCauley : ‘only one road to socialism.’
