Portele 1
Rachel Portele
Mrs. Null
Advanced American Lit.
4 March 2004
The Reform of Foreign Policy
Historically, America's foreign policy has presented itself as a perverse game of hide-and-go seek; manifestos such as the Monroe Doctrine, the Gentlemen's Agreement, and dollar diplomacy effectively closed America's doors to the outer world, yet the gnawing reality that national economies are interdependent means a resurgence of American presence on the global floor. Though America is a prima donna-resurrections into international affairs are domestically motivated-actions are reactive; America did not join WWI until the Zimmermann note was intercepted, nor did it join WWII until Pearl Harbor was bombed. However, President Harry S. Truman recognized the seeping communist threat throughout Europe and Asia Minor and thus sought to create a preemptive doctrine to dam the spread of communism internationally. In the spring of 1947, Truman delivered an address to Congress that proposed sending 400 million dollars in financial aid to Greece and Turkey to pull Greece out of its civil war and restore political and economic stability in both countries. Truman's revolutionary doctrine brought an end to the isolationist policies that America had previously embraced and ushered in an era of reaching out to aid destitute nations. In tentative, post-World War II America, Truman's adept address to Congress, diligent response to the communist threat in the Balkans, and awareness of the need for a democratic stronghold throughout Eastern Europe all contributed to the aggressive reform of America's proactive foreign policy.
Truman delicately avoided any provocations surrounding the Soviet Union and the Middle East in order to keep American support, and instead emphasized the economic and political
Portele 2
disparity in Greece and Turkey, comprehensively conveying the plight of the two nations to Congress and the American people. To dodge controversy, Truman danced around Turkey and the strategic importance of the Middle East, and instead focused on ideals to which Americans can relate. In order to communicate the essential nature of this doctrine, Truman declared "it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures" (Truman). To alleviate the citizen's doubts and ensure support, Truman needed to convince the American people that the doctrine was not a crusade for oil and allies. Americans found a unity in the fight against political decay, which lead to a sense of camaraderie and banished notions of ulterior motives. The need for a foothold in the Middle East was minimalized during the address in order to assuage public unrest, instead aid was described as for the "establishment of internal order and the necessary political and economic stability to permit Greece to maintain her independence and the form of government desired by the majority of the Greek people" (SWNCC Spokesman qtd. in Jones 39). By stressing the benevolence of the aid and the state of turmoil throughout Greece, the doctrine was perceived as philanthropic. Phrases such as "maintain her independence" and "form of government desired by the people" insinuate democracy, securing a place in American minds. The actions of the communist guerrillas occupying Greece resulted in "tragic conditions, a militant minority, exploiting human want and misery, was able to create political chaos which, until now, had made economic recovery impossible" (Avalon). Emphasis on the funding of depreciated nations cemented a connotation of generosity and liberation with the doctrine. To further the sense of good versus evil, vivid imagery was used to vilify the guerrillas, making them demons in the minds of the American people. The global emphasis of America's foreign policy reinforced the central objective in Greece of helping defeat communist guerrillas while containing the war within the nations borders (Donovan 127). This proved that the United States was serious about improving
Rachel Portele
Mrs. Null
Advanced American Lit.
4 March 2004
The Reform of Foreign Policy
Historically, America's foreign policy has presented itself as a perverse game of hide-and-go seek; manifestos such as the Monroe Doctrine, the Gentlemen's Agreement, and dollar diplomacy effectively closed America's doors to the outer world, yet the gnawing reality that national economies are interdependent means a resurgence of American presence on the global floor. Though America is a prima donna-resurrections into international affairs are domestically motivated-actions are reactive; America did not join WWI until the Zimmermann note was intercepted, nor did it join WWII until Pearl Harbor was bombed. However, President Harry S. Truman recognized the seeping communist threat throughout Europe and Asia Minor and thus sought to create a preemptive doctrine to dam the spread of communism internationally. In the spring of 1947, Truman delivered an address to Congress that proposed sending 400 million dollars in financial aid to Greece and Turkey to pull Greece out of its civil war and restore political and economic stability in both countries. Truman's revolutionary doctrine brought an end to the isolationist policies that America had previously embraced and ushered in an era of reaching out to aid destitute nations. In tentative, post-World War II America, Truman's adept address to Congress, diligent response to the communist threat in the Balkans, and awareness of the need for a democratic stronghold throughout Eastern Europe all contributed to the aggressive reform of America's proactive foreign policy.
Truman delicately avoided any provocations surrounding the Soviet Union and the Middle East in order to keep American support, and instead emphasized the economic and political
Portele 2
disparity in Greece and Turkey, comprehensively conveying the plight of the two nations to Congress and the American people. To dodge controversy, Truman danced around Turkey and the strategic importance of the Middle East, and instead focused on ideals to which Americans can relate. In order to communicate the essential nature of this doctrine, Truman declared "it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures" (Truman). To alleviate the citizen's doubts and ensure support, Truman needed to convince the American people that the doctrine was not a crusade for oil and allies. Americans found a unity in the fight against political decay, which lead to a sense of camaraderie and banished notions of ulterior motives. The need for a foothold in the Middle East was minimalized during the address in order to assuage public unrest, instead aid was described as for the "establishment of internal order and the necessary political and economic stability to permit Greece to maintain her independence and the form of government desired by the majority of the Greek people" (SWNCC Spokesman qtd. in Jones 39). By stressing the benevolence of the aid and the state of turmoil throughout Greece, the doctrine was perceived as philanthropic. Phrases such as "maintain her independence" and "form of government desired by the people" insinuate democracy, securing a place in American minds. The actions of the communist guerrillas occupying Greece resulted in "tragic conditions, a militant minority, exploiting human want and misery, was able to create political chaos which, until now, had made economic recovery impossible" (Avalon). Emphasis on the funding of depreciated nations cemented a connotation of generosity and liberation with the doctrine. To further the sense of good versus evil, vivid imagery was used to vilify the guerrillas, making them demons in the minds of the American people. The global emphasis of America's foreign policy reinforced the central objective in Greece of helping defeat communist guerrillas while containing the war within the nations borders (Donovan 127). This proved that the United States was serious about improving
