The main point of the speech which Truman gave in 1947 was to ask the US
Congress for $400 000 000 to help the governments of Greece and Turkey.
Greece was in chaos. The existing government was facing rebellions from
Communist rebels backed by Stalin and Yugoslav Communist leader Marshal
Tito. Until 1947 Britain had been helping the Greek government but could
no longer afford it. Truman felt that Greece would fall to Communism without
US economic and military aid.
Turkey did not have the same internal problems as Greece. However, the country
was under intense pressure from the USSR to give the Soviets access to the
Mediterranean. US aid to Turkey would be in the form of military equipment
and economic aid.
As well as asking for aid for Turkey and Greece, Truman argued that other
states would also need aid if the spread of Communism was to be contained.
He set out the broad principles for giving aid to other states. These principles
are in this extract. These principles were the Truman Doctrine.
