1. Sandy Cash
Mailbox 108
One of Truman’s reasons why the Congress should provide aid to Greece and Turkey,
was there is no other country that can help them. Second, the Communists threaten the
very existence of the democratic Greek state. Third, this would ensure the peaceful
development of the nations, by not allowing it to be oppressed by totalitarian. Lastly, if
we do not help them, we may endanger the peace of the world – and by that, we will
endanger the welfare of the U.S.
The U.S. foreign policy goals were first, to provide $400,000,000 for Greece and Turkey
for the period ending June 1948. Second, that $350,000,000 of this money would be used
to help Greece to prevent starvation and suffering in countries distressed by the war.
Third, the rest of the $400,000,000 would help Turkey in effectively modernizing the
necessities to maintain its national integrity. Lastly, the foreign policy goal was to
authorize the detail of American civilian and military workers to Greece and Turkey, if
they want them to help with reconstruction.
Truman says that the world must now choose from one way of life that is based upon the
will of the majority, or one way of life, that is based upon the will of a minority forcibly
imposed upon the majority. Free institutions, representative government, free elections,
and guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from
political oppression distinguish the majority. Where, the minority that is forcibly imposed
upon the majority relied upon terror and oppression, a controlled press and radio, fixed
elections, and the suppression of personal freedom. These were the arguments that
Truman presented to the Congress.