"Iron Curtain Speech"
Winston S. Churchill – March 5, 1946
Former Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill was concerned by remarks Soviet leader,
Joseph Stalin had made earlier in the year. Stalin predicted communism’s victory over
capitalism and had established Cominform to direct communist activities throughout the world.
Churchill was hoping for a combined U.S.-British response to Soviet Control of Eastern Europe
when he made his famous speech at Westminster College in Fulton Missouri. He entitled the
speech, “The Sinews of Peace.”
Source: United States History and Government II Resource Guide
The United States stands at this time at the pinnacle of world power. It is a solemn moment
for the American democracy. For with this primacy in power is also joined an awe-inspiring
accountability to the future. As you look around you, you must feel not only the sense of duty
done, but also you must feel anxiety lest you fall below the level of achievement…To reject it
or ignore it or fritter it away will bring upon us all the long reproaches of the aftertime…
Now I come to the…danger…which threaten the cottage, the home, and the ordinary people-namely, tyranny. We cannot be blind to the fact that the liberties enjoyed by individual
citizens throughout the British Empire are not valid in a considerable number of countries,
some of which are very powerful. In these States control is enforced upon the common people
by various kinds of all-embracing police governments. The power of the State is exercised
without restraint, either by dictators or by compact oligarchies operating through a privileged
party and a political police. It is not our duty at this time, when difficulties are so numerous, to
interfere forcibly in the internal affairs of countries which we have not conquered in war. But
we must never cease to proclaim in fearless tones the great principles of freedom…[which]
find their most famous expression in the American Declaration of Independence.
All this means that the people of any country have the right, and should have the power by
constitutional action, by free unfettered elections, with secret ballot, to choose or change the
character or form of government under which they dwell; that freedom of speech and thought
should reign; that courts of justice, independent of the executive, unbiased by any party,
should administer laws which have received the broad assent of large majorities or are
consecrated by time and custom. Here are the title deeds of freedom which should lie in every
cottage home…
A shadow has fallen upon the scenes so lately lighted by the Allied victory. Nobody knows
what Soviet Russia and its Communist international organization intends to do in the
immediate future, or what are the limits, if any, to their expansive and proselytizing
tendencies….
From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the
Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern
Europe… [A]ll these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the
Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a
very high and, in many cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow…The Communist
parties, which were very small in all these Eastern States of Europe, have been raised to
preeminence and power far beyond their numbers and are seeking everywhere to obtain
totalitarian control. Police governments are prevailing in nearly every case...
…Whatever conclusions may be drawn from these facts -- and facts they are -- this is certainly
not the liberated Europe we fought to build up. Nor is it one which contains the essentials of
permanent peace…
"The Sources of Soviet Conduct"
Foreign Affairs magazine, July 1947
George Kennan
[The Soviet Union] cannot be easily defeated or discouraged by a single victory on the part of its
opponents. And the patient persistence by which it is animated means that it can be effectively
countered not by sporadic acts which represent the momentary whims of democratic opinion but
only be intelligent long-range policies on the part of Russia's adversaries -- policies no less steady
in their purpose, and no less variegated and resourceful in their application, than those of the
Soviet Union itself.
This means that we are going to continue for a log time to find the Russians difficult to deal with.
They believe in the inevitable fall of capitalism. …In these circumstances it is clear that the main
element of any United States policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient
but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.
…Soviet power…bears within it the seeds of its own decay, and that the sprouting of these seeds
is well advanced.
It is clear that the United States cannot expect in the foreseeable future to enjoy political intimacy
with the Soviet regime. It must continue to regard the Soviet Union as a rival, not a partner, in the
political arena. It must continue to expect that Soviet policies will reflect no abstract love of
peace and stability, no real faith in the possibility of a permanent happy coexistence of the
Socialist and capitalist worlds, but rather a cautious, persistent pressure toward the disruption and,
weakening of all rival influence and rival power.
Balanced against this are the facts that Russia, as opposed to the western world in general, is still
by far the weaker party, that Soviet policy is highly flexible, and that Soviet society may well
contain deficiencies which will eventually weaken its own total potential. This would of itself
warrant the United States entering with reasonable confidence upon a policy of firm containment,
designed to confront the Russians with unalterable counter-force at every point where they show
signs of encroaching upon the interests of a peaceful and stable world.
Telegram, Soviet Ambassador Nikolai Novikov to Soviet Leadership
September 1946
The foreign policy of the United States, which reflects the imperialist tendencies of
American monopolistic capital, is characterized in the postwar period by a striving for
world supremacy. This is the real meaning of the many statements by President Truman
and other representatives of American ruling circles; that the United States has the right
to lead the world. All the forces of American diplomacy – the army, the air force, the
navy, industry, and science – are enlisted in the service of this foreign policy. For this
purpose broad plans for expansion have been developed and are being implemented
through diplomacy and the establishment of a system of naval and air bases stretching far
beyond the boundaries of the United States, through the arms race, and through hthe
creation of ever newer types of weapons….
During the Second World War…[American leaders] calculated that the United States of
America, if it could avoid direct participation in the war, would enter it only at the last
minute, when it could easily affect the outcome of the war, completely ensuring its
interests.
In this regard, it was thought that the main competitors of the United States would be
crushed or greatly weakened in the war, and the United States by virtue of this
circumstance would assume the role of the most powerful factor in resolving the
fundamental questions of the postwar world.
“Truman Doctrine” Speech
President Harry Truman before a Joint Session of Congress, March 12, 1947
Link to audio:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/mp3clips/politicalspeeches/harrytrumandoctrine
4563444444444444444444222222222222222223.mp3
At the present moment in world history nearly every nation must choose between
alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one. One way of life is
based upon the will of the majority, and is distinguished by free institutions,
representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom
of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life
is based upon the will of a minority forcibly imposed upon the majority. It relies upon
terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio, fixed elections, and the
suppression of personal freedoms.
I believe that 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. I
believe that we must assist free peoples to work out their own destinies in their own
way. I believe that our help should be primarily through economic and financial aid
which is essential to economic stability and orderly political processes….
It is necessary only to glance at a map to realize that the survival and integrity of
the Greek nation are of grave importance in a much wider situation. If Greece should
fall under the control of an armed minority, the effect upon its neighbor, Turkey,
would be immediate and serious. Confusion and disorder might well spread
throughout the entire Middle East. Moreover, the disappearance of Greece as an
independent state would have a profound effect upon those countries in Europe
whose peoples are struggling against great difficulties to maintain their freedoms and
their independence while they repair the damages of war….
We must take immediate and resolute action. I therefore ask the Congress to
provide authority for assistance to Greece and Turkey in the amount of
$400,000,000 for the period ending June 30, 1948. In requesting these funds, I have
taken into consideration the maximum amount of relief assistance which would be
furnished to Greece out of the $350,000,000 which I recently requested that the
Congress authorize for the prevention of starvation and suffering in countries
devastated by the war.
In addition to funds, I ask the Congress to authorize the detail of American civilian
and military personnel to Greece and Turkey, at the request of those countries, to
assist in the tasks of reconstruction, and for the purpose of supervising the use of
such financial and material assistance as may be furnished. I recommend that
authority also be provided for the instruction and training of selected Greek and
Turkish personnel….
North Atlantic Treaty
April 4, 1949
The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm…their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all
governments.
They are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilization of their
peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law.
They seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area. They are resolved to
unite their efforts for collective defense and for the preservation of peace and security.
They therefore agree to this North Atlantic Treaty:
The Parties undertake, to settle any international disputes in which they may be involved by
peaceful means…
The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North
America shall be considered an attack against them all; and consequently they agree that, if
such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective
self-defense…will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in
concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed
force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance
Warsaw May 1, 1955
The contracting parties,
Reaffirming their desire for the organization of a system of collective security in Europe…
Taking into consideration at the same time…the formation of a new military grouping in the
shape of the "Western European Union" together with a remilitarized Western Germany, and
for the integration of Western Germany in the North Atlantic bloc, which increases the threat
of another war…
Convinced that, under these circumstances, the peace-loving states of Europe should take the
necessary measures for safeguarding their security, and in the interests of maintaining peace
in Europe,
Have resolved to conclude this Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance...
The contracting parties undertake…to refrain in their international relations from the threat or
use of force, and to settle their international disputes by peaceful means so as not to
endanger international peace and security.
…
In the event of an armed attack in Europe on one or several states that are signatories of the
treaty…each state that is a party to this treaty shall…render the state or states so attacked
immediate assistance…including the use of armed force.
March 1947
Discussions take place on the future of Germany
http://cairsweb.llgc.org.uk/images/ilw1/ilw1220.gif
AP World History
Name: __________________
A) THE IRON CURTAIN Speech by Winston Churchill, March 5, 1946
1) According to Churchill, in what position did the United States find itself in
1946? Which country were they replacing in this position?
2) What is the threat to the world?
3) Who is exercising control over the nations behind the "iron curtain"?
4) Why do you think he is making this statement in the immediate aftermath of
WWII?
5) How do you think Churchill's Iron Curtain speech came to symbolize the
beginning of the Cold War?
B) GEORGE KENNAN – The Sources of Soviet Conduct – March 1947
1) What was the main foreign policy that Kennan believed the U.S. should
follow?
2) How must the United States view the Soviet Union?
3) What should the United States expect regarding the Soviet Policies?
4) Why did he believe this policy was better than armed aggression?
C) How did the Russian Viewpoint on events differ from the viewpoint of the American
and British Diplomats.
D) THE TRUMAN DOCTRINE
1) What are the 2 ways of life Truman is describing?
a.
b.
2) What should the policy of the United States be?
3) What is the money that Truman requesting actually for?
4) What does Truman warn Congress about if the United States does not take action?
E) NATO & WARSAW PACT QUESTIONS
1) Read the excerpt from the charter establishing the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) and answer the questions below
a. What was the stated purpose behind the formation of NATO?
b. How would the international organization respond if any of its'
members were attacked?
2) Read the excerpt from the charter establishing the Warsaw Pact and answer
the questions below.
a. What was the stated purpose behind the formation of the Warsaw
Pact?
b. How would the international organization respond if any of its'
members states were attacked?
3) How were the creations of NATO and the Warsaw Pact symbols of the Cold War?