| While no specific reference was made to Greece, Truman announced in 1947 that the USA planned to contain communism.
This was how Truman stated his policy to Congress:
| Truman's statement | | I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures The free people of the world look to us for support in maintaining these freedoms. If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world. |
- Consequently the Greek royalists were given $400m in aid. By 1949 they had won the Civil War and Greece did not fall behind the 'Iron Curtain'.
- The general economic situation of Europe caused great concern in the USA. Poverty, disease and homelessness were rife. Truman feared that these conditions would be a breeding ground for communism. Already in some western European countries, Communist Parties were rapidly gaining support.
Out of this concern was built the Marshall Plan, which was named after the US secretary of state, George C Marshall. As he stated:
| Marshall's statement | | "Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine, but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos. Its purpose should be the revival of a working economy in the world." |
- By this 'Marshall Plan' the USA provided 16 European countries with $17bn dollars of aid between 1948 and 1952. The money was used to repair war damage and restart economies. The feeling was that people would be less likely to support communism if they had jobs, homes and food.
- Truman offered to extend the Marshall Plan to eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Stalin refused, believing that this aid was motivated by American self-interest, in that the USA wanted to create new markets for American goods. He also felt that the anti-Communist aims behind the Marshall Plan would weaken his hold on eastern Europe. Stalin believed that Truman was trying to dominate as many states as possible by making them dependent on dollars.
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