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The Truman Doctrine and the Four Points 325 324 Eyewitnesses and Others: Readings in American History, Volume 2 One of the primary objectives of the foreign The Truman policy of the United States is the creation of condi tions in which we and other nations will be able From co;gressional and the to work out a way of life free from coercion [force Record, 80th Congress, Doctrine 1st Session; and or the threat of force]. This was a fundamental issue Congressional Record, 81st Four Points in the war with Germany and Japan. Our victory Congress, 1st Session. was won over countries which sought to impose (1947,1949) their will, and way of life, on other nations. To insure the peaceful development of nations, During World War II, the United States and the free from coercion, the United States has taken a Soviet Union were allies. After the war, however, leading part in establishing the United Nations, The • The the Soviets were determined to take over the Eastern United Nations is designed to make possible lasting United Nations European countries that they had occupied. The United freedom and independence for all its members. We is designed to States opposed this, and the two countries were soon shall not realize our objectives, however, unless we make possible free people to maintain their locked into a Cold War. At the same time, communist are willing to help lasting freedom free institutions and their national integrity against parties in many European countries began gaining and sought ways to end this aggressive movements that seek to impose upon them power. President Truman regimes of government in which independence war. totalitarian [systems spread of communism without all aspects of people’s lives are rigidly controlled]. for all its Greece threatened In 1947 communist rebels in This is no more than a frank recognition that totali members. to overthrow the conservative Greek government. Tru tarian regimes imposed on free peoples, by direct man asked Congress for $400 million in aid for Greece, or indirect aggression, undermine the foundations stating a plan that became known as the Truman of international peace and hence the security of the Doctrine. Then, in his inaugural address in January United States. 1949, he outlined his Four Point Foreign Policy, The peoples of a number of countries of the which included his continued support of the European world have recently had totalitarian regimes forced Recovery Program (the Marshall Plan) and America’s upon them against their will. The government of responsibility to the underdeveloped areas of the world. the United States has made frequent protests against As you read the excerpts from Truman’s address to the coercion and intimidation, in violation of the Congress, in which he outlined the Truman Doctrine, Yalta agreement, in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. and the fourth point of his Four Point Foreign Policy, I must also state that in a number of other countries similar consider what Truman thought might happen f the there have been developments. provide aid to Greece. At the present moment in world history nearly United States failed to every nation must choose between alternative ways of life. The choice is too often not a free one. 1947 One way of life is based upon the will of the am fully aware of the broad implications in majority, and is distinguished by free institutions, J volved if the United States extends assistance representative government, free elections, guarantees to Greece and Turkey, and! shall discuss these impli of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, cations with you at this time. and freedom from political oppression. 1 The Truman Doctrine and the Four Points 327 American Histoiy, Volume 2 326 Eyewitnesses and Others: Readings in upon the will evil soil of poverty and strife. They reach their full The second way of life is based upon the majority. growth when the hope of a people for a better life of a minority forcibly imposed a controlled has died. We must keep that hope alive. relies upon terror and oppression, It suppression The free peoples of the world look to us for The free peoples radio, fixed elections and the press and support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter of the world look of personal freedoms. of the United in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of for support I believe that it must be the policy to us attempted the world—and we shall surely endanger the welfare support peoples who are resisting in maintaining States to of our own nation. Great responsibilities have been [takeover or control] by armed minor their subjugation our placed upon us by the swift movement of events. I . believe that . I ities or by outside pressures. freedoms. economic and am confident that the Congress will face these re help should be primarily through economic stability sponsibilities squarely. financial aid, which is essential to and orderly political processes. and the 1949 The world is not static [motionless] sacred. But we We must embark on a bold new program for making status quo [present situation] is not quo in violation the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial cannot allow changes in the status by such methods progress available for the improvement and growth of the charter of the United Nations [deceptions] as of underdeveloped areas. as coercion, or by such subterfuges and independent More than half the people of the world are political infiltration. In helping free the United States living in conditions approaching misery. Their food nations to maintain their freedom, the charter is inadequate. They are victims of disease. Their be giving effect to the principles of will economic life is primitive and stagnant. Their poverty of the United Nations. to realize is a handicap and a threat both to them and prosper It is necessary only to glance at a map the Greek nation ous areas. that the survival and integrity of wider situation. For the first time in history, humanity possesses are of grave importance in a much of an armed the knowledge and the skill to relieve the suffering If Greece should fall under the control Turkey, would of these people. minority, the effect upon its neighbor, and disorder The United States is pre-eminent among nations be immediate and serious. Confusion Middle in the development of industrial and scientific tech might well spread throughout the entire niques. The material resources which we can afford East. if these to use for the assistance of other people are limited. It would be an unspeakable tragedy against over But our imponderable resources in technical knowl countries, which have struggled so long for which edge are constantly growing and are inexhaustible. whelming odds, should lose that victory free institutionS I believe that we should make available to peace- they sacrificed so much. Collapse of disastrous not loving peoples the benefits of our store of technical and loss of independence would be Discouragement knowledge in order to help them realize their aspira only for them but for the world. the lot of neigh tions for a better life. And, in cooperation with other and possibly failure would quickly be their freedom nations, we should Foster capital investment in areas boring peoples striving to maintain needing development. and independence. nurtured Our aim should be to help the free peoples The seeds of totalitarian regimes are and grow in the of the world, through their own efforts, to produce by misery and want. They spread 328 Eyewitnesses and Others: Readings in American Htctosy, Volume 2 The Truman Doctrine and the Four Points 329 is a program of development based on the concepts of democratic fair-dealing. All countries, including our own, will greatly benefit from a constructive program for the better use of the world’s human and natural resources. Expe rience shows that our commerce with other countries expands as they progress industrially and economi cally. Greater production is the key to prosperity and President Harry Tru peace. And the key to greater production is a wider man addresses a joint and more vigorous application of modern scientific session of Congress to and technical knowledge. propose the foreign pol Only by helping the least fortunate of its mem icy initiative later called bers to help themselves can the human family achieve the Truman Doctrine. the decent, satisfying life that is the right of all people. more food, more clothing, more materials for hous Democracy alone can supply the vitalizing force ing, and more mechanical power to lighten their to stir the peoples of the world into triumphant burdens. action, not only against their human oppressors, but We invite other countries to pooi their techno also against their ancient enemies—hunger, misery, logical resources in this undertaking. Their contribu and despair. tions will be warmly welcomed. This should be a cooperative enterprise in which all nations work to gether through the United Nations and its special ized agencies wherever practicable. It must be a REVIEWING THE READING worldwide effort for the achievement of peace, 1. What do you think President Truman plenty, and freedom. thought might happen if the United States With the cooperation of business, private capi failed to provide aid to Greece? tal, agriculture, and labor in this country, this pro 2. What resources of the United States did gram can greatly increase the industrial activity in President Truman think the United States other nations and can raise substantially their stan could offer to underdeveloped countries? dards of living. Which American resources did he say Such new economic developments must be de were limited? vised and controlled to benefit the peoples of the areas in which they are established, Guarantees to 3.

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