LAD #36: The Truman Doctrine

President Truman presenting his speech about the "Truman Doctrine"

In this speech, Truman states that America had received an urgent appeal from the Greek government for financial and economic assistance, and that providing them with this help will ensure that the country stays as a free nation. After liberating forces entered Greece, they found that the country was in ruins and its economy had suffered immensely. A minority group took advantage of this situation and turned it into anarchy that made rebuilding the economy impossible, so much so that Greece doesn't even have money to import goods necessary of its own survival. The communist-led terrorist groups make it hard for the government to retain control, to which Truman argues that the United States has to help Greece's democratic government because no other country is able or willing to. He also says that the United Nations will not be able to provide the needed type of support quickly enough as the situation calls for urgent actions. Truman also believes that Turkey, a neighboring country, needs help as well, though in different ways than Greece. Truman claims that although Turkey has asked for financial aid from Great Britain and the U.S. before, it was now important to help them in order to preserve oder in the Middle East. He states that America will not be able to accomplish its goals as being a leading member of the U.N. if it doesn't attempt to help both Turkey and Greece with their problems, because having totalitarian regimes forced on people against their will is a violation of the Yalta Conference. Truman believes tat it's the United States' duty to support people who are resisting such totalitarian regimes and support their right of self-determination. If America doesn't support these countries now, he warns, the effects of them falling will have far-reaching consequences on the entire world. He ends by asking Congress to provide $400,000,000 to aid Greece and Turkey as well as send American civilians and military members to assist wit reconstruction.