Diplomatic Tensions and the Iron Curtain
The period of Soviet expansion in Eastern Europe was marked by significant diplomatic exchanges that shaped the Cold War landscape. Two key communications, The Long Telegram and The Novikov Telegram, revealed the deep-seated mistrust between the USA and the Soviet Union.
The Long Telegram
George Kennan, America's ambassador in Moscow, sent a telegram discussing US-Soviet relations that had a profound impact on American foreign policy.
Quote: Kennan advised the US government to "regard the Soviet Union as a rival."
Key points of The Long Telegram:
- It was taken seriously by the American government.
- The message worried the USA government.
- Kennan reported that Stalin wanted to see the destruction of capitalism.
- He conveyed that the Soviets felt the world outside was hostile and looking to destroy communism.
Highlight: The Long Telegram played a crucial role in shaping the USA's containment policy towards the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
The Novikov Telegram
In response to Kennan's telegram, Nikolai Novikov, a Soviet diplomat working in Washington, sent a telegram that mirrored the distrust from the Soviet perspective.
Key aspects of The Novikov Telegram:
- It demonstrated that the Soviets thought poorly of the West.
- Novikov claimed that the USA wanted to use massive military power to dominate the world.
- He suggested that Americans no longer wanted to cooperate and would support their government if it came to war.
- The telegram had a major impact in Moscow, emphasizing the need to develop as much protection as possible.
Example: The mutual distrust evident in these telegrams led to increased military spending and the intensification of the arms race between the two superpowers.
The Iron Curtain Speech
In March 1946, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered a speech that defined US-Soviet relations and highlighted the Soviet threat to freedom and world peace.
Key points of the Iron Curtain speech:
- It was provoked by the establishment of new communist governments in Eastern Europe.
- Churchill cleared the speech with President Truman, indicating that it reflected American beliefs as well.
- The speech increased tension and mistrust between East and West.
- In response, the Soviet Union strengthened its forces and stepped up anti-Western propaganda.
Vocabulary: The term "Iron Curtain" became a metaphor for the ideological and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II until the end of the Cold War.
The Iron Curtain speech marked a turning point in US-Soviet relations, intensifying hostility and solidifying the division of Europe into two opposing blocs. This event, along with the diplomatic exchanges of The Long Telegram and The Novikov Telegram, set the stage for decades of Cold War tensions and the ongoing struggle between capitalist and communist ideologies.
