By the middle of the twentieth century's fifth decade, the world had been jolted by two catastrophic wars; a seven- year economic disaster and the recognition that weapons of mass destruction existed. Where blood had been spilled through hand to hand combat dating back to trench warfare, the realization that thirty years hence, blood bones and the complete human identity could be vaporized helped create a climate of distrust between former allies. The architects of postwar Europe, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Franklin Roosevelt and Soviet Premier Josef Stalin, acting as a triumvirate of supreme commanders, negotiated on behalf of their countries' interest in redefining the geographic boundaries of Europe. The contrast in nationalistic views exposed by Stalin and Churchill would begin the journey to what became known as the "Cold War". The strategies utilized by both the United States and Great Britain were designed to thwart the Soviet Union's attempt to expand puppet Communist regimes over conquered territories. Winston Churchill would write in his memoirs an entry dated May 10th, 1945, "The Soviet menace had already replaced the Nazi foe". As

The negotiations over the outstanding issues of Poland and the other Eastern European countries proved difficult and divisive. As the new Secretary of State James Byrnes reported to the three leaders on July 28: ' The U.S. has unfortunately found that if it agrees with the Soviet delegation, the British delegation does not agree, and if it agrees with the British, the Soviets would disagree. (Op.cit. P.397)

President Truman had committed us to the policy of "Containment", which had been popularized in Washington by George Keenan, a member of the diplomatic staff in the Russian Embassy in Moscow. Keenan was the famous author of the "Long Telegram" a 5000+ word document which gave his impressions of Soviet Foreign Policy. That policy was focused on disrupting the balance of power in the Western world. The telegram came to the State Department in early 1946 with ominous predictions about Soviet intentions:

The more famous Marshall Plan followed the announcement of the Truman Doctrine within that year. This was a direct financial and economic aid package to Western Europe designed to get them back on their feet through a vigorous rebuilding effort. Economically sound countries were not the breeding ground for Communist Party breakthroughs reasoned Truman and he was correct. The policy of Containment would be strengthened as each country in itself got stronger.

To undermine the political and strategic potential of major western powers..." and "for Communists to work toward the destruction of all forms of personal independence, economic, political or moral in foreign countries (May 5)

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Approximate Word count = 2379
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)