Stalin’s Bolshoi Speech (Feb 1946)
• Speech for Russian elections (BOLSHOI Theatre, Moscow).
• Standard Communist attacks on CAPITALISM but included: " world capitalism proceeds through crisis and the catastrophes of war."
• US politicians saw it as a threat.
The Long Telegram (Feb 1946)
• US State Dept asked for Soviet policy analysis.
• George KENNAN (US Embassy, Moscow) responded w. 8,000-word ‘LONG TELEGRAM’. Kennan hated Communism. Key points:
1. USSR wants to destroy US way of life.
2. Greatest threat US has ever faced.
3. USSR can be defeated.
4. Must be stopped.
5. War not necessary.
6. Best strategy = educate public vs Communism + make them WEALTHY, HAPPY AND FREE.
The Novikov Telegram (Sept 1946)
• Soviet Ambassador Nikolai NOVIKOV, aware of Long Telegram, sent report to Moscow:
1. US military buildup = proof it wants WORLD DOMINATION.
2. US + UK secretly dividing world.
3. US using ‘HARD-LINE’ vs USSR to limit Soviet influence.
4. US creating fear to gain public support.
5. US preparing for a war against the USSR as " the chief obstacle in the American path to world domination."
The Fulton Speech (March 1946)
• Churchill, invited by Truman, spoke in FULTON, US.
• Warned that ‘a SHADOW’ had fallen over E. Europe → ‘iron curtain’ divided free world from Soviet-controlled states.
• E. Europeans behind Iron Curtain " subject to Soviet influence… TOTALITARIAN control [and] police govts."
• → Stalin: "Mr Churchill has called for a WAR on the USSR."
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