Essay 5: To what extent had the policy of containment been successful in Europe and Asia
between 1947-1950?
Introduction:
 Containment, the primary United States foreign policy during the Cold War was
introduced in 1946 by George Kennan in his Long Telegram (adopted in 1947 by
Truman), which supported the US aid of the democratic states of Europe and
Japan through economic aid (Marshall Plan).
 Basis of containment: prevent further spread of USSR Communism. Will not
invade already communist states, but will prevent spread of communism by
economic aid.
 Although there were successes and failures in both Europe and Asia, containment
in Europe between 1947-1950 was more successful than containment in Asia.
Successes
 Truman Doctrine—1947
o Support Greece and Turkey against leftist minority uprising/civil war and
USSR conflict in the Dardanelles, respectively.
o Kept Greece and Turkey democratic, as both joined NATO in 1951.
 Marshall Plan—1948
o Economic recovery in Western Europe. $13 billion to 17 countries. Offered
both psychological and materialistic aid to Western European countries.
o Leftist parties in Western Europe saw losses in support.
o West Germany (bordered Communist East) benefited greatly from this aid
and went through great economic recovery.
 Became Democratic and economically stable. Western Germany
became a part of Western Europe.
 Conservative Party victory in free elections.
 Berlin Airlift—1948
o Americans flew over 1.5 million tons of supplies to the Germans suffering
in the Berlin Blockade.
o Aided 2.5 million Germans
o Population became pro-America and depicted Stalin as a cold tyrant.
 NATO—1949
o Strong Western military alliance.
 Japan—late 1940s
o Americans built Japan as a ally in Asia and used Japan as a military base
against Communism
Failure
 Czech Coup—1948 Major failure of containment in Europe
o Strong US influenced Western Europe became threat to Stalin
o Communist Party of Czechoslovakia with the aid of Soviets assumed
control of government
 China goes Communist—1950
o Mao victory in China—most populated nation in the world becomes
Communist
o Signs the Sino-Soviet Friendship Treaty (1950): USSR aid to China
o US gave nationalists in China aid starting from 1945 but still lost Civil War.
 Korean War—1950
o Albeit no conclusion to war, even as of now, it was evident then that
Communism was spreading and Americans had a growing enemy with
North Korea turning Communist
o 1950: Red Army of China aid North Korea by attacking UN forces
 Vietnam
o Soviet urged Vietnamese to fight against French
o Vietnamese communist guerillas started attacking French and posed
serious threat.
o US aided unpopular side. Feared Domino effect in Asia if Communism not
contained in Southeast Asia.
Historiography
 Traditionalists
o Success in Western Europe. Could have done more to implement
containment policy in Asia and stopped USSR from aiding/succeeding
Communist uprisings.
 Revisionists
o Success in Western Europe, but Communist spread in Asia not our fault. It
was more of a popular movement and people in China wanted to be
Communist and wanted Mao victory, same with Korea and Vietnam.
Popular movement, aid would not have helped because in the end it’s
what the people wanted.
 United States could have done more in Asia because the Communist uprisings
were not of popular desire, but only the ideology of minority groups. Instead, US
focused more energy and attention to securing democracy in Western Europe.
Conclusion
 With the success of the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, Berlin Airlift and
NATO during the years of 1947-1950, the US was able to succeed in building,
maintaining and stabilizing a democracy in Western Europe.
 Despite the Czech Coup, containment in Europe was mostly successful, so to a
large extent.
 Despite success in building a democracy and military base in Japan, the United
States suffered a big loss in Asia with China turning Communist, and with
Communist uprisings and enemies in Korea and Vietnam. Containment in China
was a failure, so it was a success, only to the slightest extent.
 US could have done more in Asia with containment because it was a great failure.
US lack of attention allowed minority parties to gain control.