Roosevelt and Universalism
Roosevelt felt the events during and prior to the war stressed the need for the USA to take a more active involvement in world affairs. This led to a foreign policy in conflict with The Soviets. Russia had always felt week and insecure and so an ‘offensive’ American foreign policy was bound to raise eyebrows amongst Russians.
Stalin and Poland
As the question over Poland (considered the path of attack to Russia and therefore immensely important to the Soviets) escalated, causing a battle of wills between Churchill and Stalin, Stalin allowed a pro-Western uprising in Warsaw to be easily crushed by the occupying Nazis. This was not an attack upon the West but rather neglecting western wishes in order for Stalin to achieve his own goals and Stalin must take responsibility for this.
Yalta
A genuine attempt was made to settle differences and Stalin signed ‘The Declaration of Liberated Europe’. Thus he accepted the need for free election and democracy. However the Soviets occupied Poland by force and stressed the need for Russia’s ‘satellites’ to remain pro-Communist. This was therefore blatant deceit by Stalin who had consequently ended free elections in such countries, going back on the declaration and thus hotting the dispute. Here I would see Stalin as the more aggressive and more of a danger to the peace than Roosevelt. However Roosevelt’s death opened the door for a new president……….
The Big Change
President Truman replaced Roosevelt in 1945 and instantly ended lend-lease aid to the Soviets, which meant demobilization from Germany leaving Russia isolated as during the issue of ‘The Second Front’. Truman had set a statement in doing so, he did not wish to work hand in hand with Communist Russia and Stalin and the world saw this. Truman is therefore guilty of causing a break in relations and antagonism characteristic of The Cold War.
Potsdam
The agreements made concerned the occupation of Germany but they unraveled within a year showing that the two sides were unable to negotiate.
‘Atomic Diplomacy’
This was one week after Potsdam and saw America drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The possession of the bomb was a widely discussed issue at the time and the historian Alperovitz suggests it caused Truman to take a tougher line against Communist Russia.
‘Policy of no policy
This was a time where America’s foreign policy was clearly diverted from Russia and consequently Russia infiltrated Europe, occupying 11 states within 2 years
Stalin must be considered an aggressor for his expansionist ambitions but he often justified it as a matter of defense to be friendly with neighboring countries by ‘making’ them Communist. The ‘line’ of satellites led to Churchill’s talk of the ‘iron curtain’ descending across Europe. This was a result of Stalin’s expansion and therefore Stalin has more claim to the blame for the escalation of the disputes. However the need to expand may be considered as a consequence of Truman’s antagonism towards Russia causing Stalin to feel paranoid, a characteristic of his.
Britain-Russian relations hit over Iran
Britain were concerned over Russia’s occupation of Iran during the war and agreement was made between the two that the troops would be removed by six months after the war’s end. However Russia did not conform. The US Secretary of State, James Byrnes, urged Iranians to resist any further Russian advancements and many saw this as the turning point in where the tension picked up momentum. It is therefore the deceit of Stalin and Russia in going back on their word aswell as the aggressive voice of the US Secretary of State which can be given blame.
The Truman Doctrine and The Marshall Plan
Here Truman can be given much criticism for his adopted policies of containment and talk of the ‘domino theory’ which led to controversial wars such as Vietnam aswell as being a major aspect in the Cold War and a change in policy very often associated with the breakdown in relations between East and West. A ‘blank cheque’ was offered to any country threatened by Communism, showing clear intolerance towards Russia.
To argue in Stalin’s defense, the Russians had no short term plans to obliterate capitalism, particularly in the East, but rather wished to go about living by their own ideals. However America constantly attempted to bring down Communism one way or another and frequently spoke out against Russia.
The Marshall Plan offered aid to all European countries including Russia, but it was rejected by the Soviets who saw it as a direct attempt to turn people’s faith back to Communism and so the tension only grew. In these instances I hold the opinion that America aggravated the issue and turned antagonism into The Cold War.
Conclusion
The mid twentieth century saw two superpowers dominating the world’s politics with hugely differing ideals. However I feel that the friction got out of hand due to America’s failure to accept another way of life other than Communism and Stalin’s panaroia over America’s ambitions. In my opinion The Truman Doctrine and The Marshall Plan were blatant attacks on Russia and Communism, and bring blame largely to America, and the contraverial Truman. Although I would not blame the whole conflict on Truman, I find his contribution a big one.
