The Diplomatic Assignment Paper: Truman’s Doctrine (Essay Sample)

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Introduction
Truman doctrine completely shifted the United States stance on foreign policy, in fact before this doctrine the U.S. foreign policy on regions experiencing conflict was withdrawal. This doctrine signed into action in the year 1947, aimed to provide military, political and economic assistance to any country (diplomatic state) under threat. Moreover, it would provide support for these countries regardless of the type of threat i.e. internal or external (Office of the Historian, 2016). Nevertheless, Truman intervention that leads to this doctrine was instigated by the actions of the British Government to terminate its support for the Turkish and Greek government. At the time, these two countries were experiencing external threats from communist insurrection and the pressure from the Soviet Union expansion. This two reason made the intervention possible, as proposed by President Truman on the U.S. government.
The Diplomatic Doctrine
The date was February 21st, 1947, the British Government through their embassy informed the U.S state official of its impending actions of dropping financial aid to both the governments of Turkey and Greece. However, prior to the actions taken by the British government, the United States, through its policy makers had been monitoring Greece economic and political conditions. To them (policy makers), the government was crumbling due to Communist insurgence, especially by the National Liberation Front (EAM/ELAS). Moreover, similar events were being experienced in Turkey where its weak government was facing extreme pressure from the Soviet Union. This pressure came from the Soviet’s desire to gain control over the strategic Dardanelle Straits (National Archives, President’s Truman’s message to Congress, 1947).
In a nutshell, when the British government decided to stop its aid to the Greek and Turkish government the responsibility fell to the United States. Therefore in an effort to calm the situation in these countries, President Truman appeared before a joint session of Congress to request funding and the overall support. According to President Truman, a major decision was faced by the entire world; either subscribe to the rule of the many, based on the rules set by governments or subscribe to the rule of the few (minorities). However, the latter system would rely on oppression and the hard rule of the few in power. Moreover, he retaliated that the foreign policies adopted by the U.S. were part and parcel of the situation facing Greece and Turkey. True to Truman’s words Greece was experiencing external threats like never seen before, increased terrorist activities that were perpetrated by thousand armed men. Hence, it was the responsibility of the American policy makers to drive communists out of the Greece government and assists this country to achieve a self-supporting democracy.
In addition to this, the national integrity of the Turkish people was under threat. Quick support was needed to help alleviate the attempted subjugation by armed minorities and any other external pressure.
Nevertheless, a worrying state was evident at the time when the Soviet Union was keen to impose its role in the European countries. Therefore, the U.S. government was worried about the outcome of the success of the communist agenda on the Greek civil war, in fact, according to policymakers at the time, the Soviet Union would eventually influence the Greek policies. Furthermore, leaders in the Soviet Union had deliberately failed to support the Greek Communists, actions that had forced the Yugoslavian Prime Minister (Josip Tito) to withdraw his support for the same furcation. As expected this had deteriorated the relations between the Soviet Union and the Yugoslavian government.
Regardless of these outcomes, the Truman doctrine was a declaration mitigated by the Cold war. In fact, a durable postwar re-approach would have been achieved in absence of this doctrine were it for some few major setback brought on by the Soviet Union. Four setbacks were highlighted: one, its failure to withdraw from northern Iran in 1946 (Tehran Declaration, 1943); Soviet attempt to acquire oil concessions in Iran; Soviet pressure on the Turkish government and finally, its rejection of the international control law on Nuclear weapons (Baruch plan, 1946).
Actual Doctrine
President Harry S. Truman requested for $400 million in funding to be used as military and economic assistance. Both the Greek and Turkish government would benefit from the aid in accordance with a doctrine set by U.S policymakers. Moreover, President Truman urged the doctrine (now known as the Truman Doctrine) to set terms that would apply for the next 40 years. This doctrine would serve to protect the people around the world from communist’s activities and movements. Moreover, by stopping the communist aggression in these countries, other countries would be protected from subjugated leadership (BBC, 2014).
So, what was achieved? Political stability was achieved in Turkey, an important factor that had previously undermined the stability of the Middle East region. However, this doctrine also aligned with the American regime and policies of National security. Nevertheless, the doctrine did help democracy to prevail in these regions a concept that had previously been undermined by totalitarian regimes imposed by communist power. In actual sense, this doctrine supported free people in their endeavor to resist the subjugation of armed minorities and external pressures.
Furthermore, in June 1947, General George Marshall President’s Truman counterpart in the doctrine formation visited Europe to assess the situation. After the visit, he was compelled to think the situation in this region was so severe that the entire continent was about to turn communist. He thought the region was extremely poor and he urged congress to fund the European recovery program, a program nicknamed the Marshall plan. At first, congress failed to provide the funding but was compelled to do so after Czechoslovakia turned into a communist country. $17 billion was given to be used as aid for food, grants, purchase equipment, improve transportation and support medical aid. However, 70 percent was used to buy goods and commodities from U.S. suppliers. Food, fertilizer, and animal feed were allocated $3.2billion, $1.9 billion was used on machinery with $1.6billion being used on fuel. Furthermore, an extra $3.5 billion was used to buy raw materials.
Nevertheless, the major shift in ideology represented by this doctrine was the heightened expansion of thinking, the influence of logic and reasoning. Prior to Truman’s presentation a long-standing ideology of steering clear of foreign policies was used, where countries were only vigilant of their own state affairs. This shift in ideology was represented by the U.S. government whose peace interventions were extended to include other western countries such as those in Europe and also the entire world. In essence, Truman’s ideology of supporting the will of the free people helped the world to resist the subjugation of the armed minorities and even outside pressures.
Consequences of the Truman’s Doctrine
Truman’s...