1946 : Churchill delivers "Iron Curtain" speech
In one of the most famous orations of the Cold War period, former
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill condemns the Soviet Union's
policies in Europe and declares, "From Stettin in the Baltic to
Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the
continent." Churchill's speech is considered one of the opening
volleys announcing the beginning of the Cold War.
Churchill, who had been defeated for re-election as prime minister in
1945, was invited to Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri where he
gave this speech. President Harry S. Truman joined Churchill on the
platform and listened intently to his speech. Churchill began by
praising the United States, which he declared stood "at the pinnacle
of world power." It soon became clear that a primary purpose of his
talk was to argue for an even closer "special relationship" between
the United States and Great Britain-the great powers of the
"English-speaking world"-in organizing and policing the postwar world.
In particular, he warned against the expansionistic policies of the
Soviet Union. In addition to the "iron curtain" that had descended
across Eastern Europe, Churchill spoke of "communist fifth columns"
that were operating throughout western and southern Europe. Drawing
parallels with the disastrous appeasement of Hitler prior to World War
II, Churchill advised that in dealing with the Soviets there was
"nothing which they admire so much as strength, and there is nothing
for which they have less respect than for military weakness."
Truman and many other U.S. officials warmly received the speech.
Already they had decided that the Soviet Union was bent on expansion
and only a tough stance would deter the Russians. Churchill's "iron
curtain" phrase immediately entered the official vocabulary of the
Cold War. U.S. officials were less enthusiastic about Churchill's call
for a "special relationship" between the United States and Great
Britain. While they viewed the English as valuable allies in the Cold
War, they were also well aware that Britain's power was on the wane
and had no intention of being used as pawns to help support the
crumbling British empire. In the Soviet Union, Russian leader Joseph
Stalin denounced the speech as "war mongering," and referred to
Churchill's comments about the "English-speaking world" as imperialist
"racism." The British, Americans, and Russians-allies against Hitler
less than a year before the speech-were drawing the battle lines of
the Cold War.
history.com/tdih.do
1770 : THE BOSTON MASSACRE:
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6827
1815 : Innovator of hypnotism dies
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4812
In one of the most famous orations of the Cold War period, former
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill condemns the Soviet Union's
policies in Europe and declares, "From Stettin in the Baltic to
Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the
continent." Churchill's speech is considered one of the opening
volleys announcing the beginning of the Cold War.
Churchill, who had been defeated for re-election as prime minister in
1945, was invited to Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri where he
gave this speech. President Harry S. Truman joined Churchill on the
platform and listened intently to his speech. Churchill began by
praising the United States, which he declared stood "at the pinnacle
of world power." It soon became clear that a primary purpose of his
talk was to argue for an even closer "special relationship" between
the United States and Great Britain-the great powers of the
"English-speaking world"-in organizing and policing the postwar world.
In particular, he warned against the expansionistic policies of the
Soviet Union. In addition to the "iron curtain" that had descended
across Eastern Europe, Churchill spoke of "communist fifth columns"
that were operating throughout western and southern Europe. Drawing
parallels with the disastrous appeasement of Hitler prior to World War
II, Churchill advised that in dealing with the Soviets there was
"nothing which they admire so much as strength, and there is nothing
for which they have less respect than for military weakness."
Truman and many other U.S. officials warmly received the speech.
Already they had decided that the Soviet Union was bent on expansion
and only a tough stance would deter the Russians. Churchill's "iron
curtain" phrase immediately entered the official vocabulary of the
Cold War. U.S. officials were less enthusiastic about Churchill's call
for a "special relationship" between the United States and Great
Britain. While they viewed the English as valuable allies in the Cold
War, they were also well aware that Britain's power was on the wane
and had no intention of being used as pawns to help support the
crumbling British empire. In the Soviet Union, Russian leader Joseph
Stalin denounced the speech as "war mongering," and referred to
Churchill's comments about the "English-speaking world" as imperialist
"racism." The British, Americans, and Russians-allies against Hitler
less than a year before the speech-were drawing the battle lines of
the Cold War.
history.com/tdih.do
1770 : THE BOSTON MASSACRE:
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=6827
1815 : Innovator of hypnotism dies
history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=4812
No comments:
Post a Comment