Churchill's Perceptions of Russia
Due to its domestic uprising within Britain and its ability to undercut established global action policies, Churchill perceived Russia as a threat. But he believed that Russia's social and economic collapse could influence other countries and impose its socialist policies. Churchill knew that the totalitarian communist regime would start another war for political hegemony if the west did not move more quickly. Churchill recounted how "an iron curtain has descended across the Continent" as he gave the speech that was broadcast nationwide, per Tignor et al. (p. Moreover, he went a notch to allege his fears by indicating that "this is certainly not the Liberated Europe we fought to build up. Nor is it one which contains the essentials of permanent peace." (p. 5). In addition, Churchill was also concerned that the increasing communist influence would spread its tentacles in other parts of the world and choke English speaking nations. Churchill also saw Russia as a threat because it adored the power of its military, and yet it had no respect for a weak military (p. 7). As a result, a collaboration between US, Britain and other English-speaking nations was necessary to prevent the spread of communist. As the representative of a ruling class, Churchill feared the spread of communist across Britain and Europe.
Churchill's Desires for US Collaboration
What did Churchill want the U.S. to do?
Churchill wanted the United States to collaborate with Britain and scale back Soviet's influence (p. 4). Specifically, he wanted the US to create a fraternal association with Britain because it was the central world power that had the solemn responsibility and the moral authority to guarantee peace across the world. The fraternal association would help prevent the expansion of the communist bloc of countries (Tignor et al. 4). In short, the fraternal association would halt the cold war appeasement. Moreover, Churchill wanted the US to act not only fast but also with a determination to prevent another conflict associated with totalitarian communist administration.
Stalin's Response to Churchill
How did Stalin answer Churchill?
In response to Churchill's speech that was delivered in the US dubbed as the "Iron Curtain", Stalin recounted that Churchill had metamorphosed himself into a demagogue of war. Moreover, Stalin went ahead to equate Churchill to Hitler in a bid to stress his depiction of Churchill as a warmonger. According to Stalin, it was the Nazi propagandist machinery under the leadership of Hitler that perpetuated the racial theory where the Jews were conceived as inferior over the Aryan race (p. 1). Essentially, it was this slanted view and racial profiling that plunged the world into the Second World War. Furthermore, Stalin held the view that since Churchill was treading in the footsteps of Hitler, he was also stocking the flames of a Third World War using the same racial theory. However, unlike Hitler's racial theory where German-speaking individuals mattered most, Churchill's racial theory according to Stalin sought to privilege English speaking nations over others, which was catastrophic. Besides, Stalin cites that Churchill and his allies in England and the US offered countries that do not speak English with a proposition that follows: ''Recognize our lordship voluntarily and then all will be well. In the contrary case, war is inevitable" (p. 1). In reality, Stalin understood Churchill's words as a clarion call to war with the Soviet. To demonstrate his argument further, Stalin cited that remarks by Churchill threatened the democratic establishment of European nations, particularly those that not only border the Soviet Union but also subject to the influence and control of Moscow.
Vyshinsky's Fear of the Marshall Plan
Why did Vyshinsky fear the Marshall Plan?
Vyshinsky feared the Marshall plan because it was a reflection of the violation of the United Nations principles. This was clearly demonstrated by the US Authority's stance against Greece and Turkey; it had no regard to the objectives of the United Nation. Again, the Marshall Plan differed with the General Assembly's resolutions that promote the supply of relief to other nations and as Vyshinsky affirmed: "should at no time be used as a political weapon" (p. 1). Besides, the Marshall plan involved the Truman Doctrine based on the postwar Europe. In proposing the Marshall plan, the US government relied on the coordination of France and UK governments to attack the European nations especially those that depended on relief. The US was also interested in many European nations to rely on its monopolies that exported capital as well as goods to Europe. Moreover, Vyshinsky feared the Marshall plan since it meant that European nations' political, economic and internal affairs were to be controlled by the US (p. 1). Again, Marshall Plan tried to divide Europe in groups with the assistance of France and UK, to create a bloc of numerous European nations against the interests of democratic nations, especially countries like Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest and Sofia that were under the influence of the Soviet Union (Vyshinsky 2). The most critical aspect of Marshall Plan is that it tried to confront Eastern Europe nations with states in Western Europe such as western Germany. Fundamentally this was to take advantage of German's heavy industry and also as an economic platform for the US to expand across Europe while disregarding the interests of countries that were adversely affected by the German violence.
Works Cited
Churchill, Winston. "Iron Curtain Speech". Westminster College. Fulton, MO. 5 Mar. 1946. Keynote Speech.
Stalin, J. ''Stalin's Reply to Churchill," (interview with Pravda), New York Times, March 14, 1946, p. 1-2.
Tignor, Robert, et al. World Together, Worlds Apart: Fourth International Student Edition. WW Norton & Company, 2013.
Vyshinsky, A. "Vyshinsky Speech to UN General Assembly." Unpublished manuscript, New York (1947).
