Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

868.00/3–2047

Report by the Subcommittee on Foreign Policy Information of the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee¹

[Extract] secret
SWNCC–FPI 30

[Washington, undated.]

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Informational Objectives and Main Themes

i. basic united states policy

1. A cardinal objective of United States foreign policy is a world in which nations shall be able to work out their own way of life free of coercion by other nations. To this end the United States has just finished fighting a war against Germany and Japan who were attempting to impose their will upon other nations. To the same end, the United States has taken a leading part in establishing the United Nations which is designed to make possible freedom and independence for all of its member nations.

2. The intent of this country to maintain a world of free peoples is directed equally against aggressive movements and against the imposition through whatever means from without of dictatorial regimes whether fascist, nazi, communist, or of any other form.

3. This principle of our foreign policy recognizes that only in such a world can the United States maintain its freedom and security.

4. A frank appraisal of the present world situation requires a recognition of the fact that a number of the countries of the world either have had forms of government imposed upon them against the will of a majority of the people or are in imminent danger of such a fate.

5. There is, at the present point in world history, a conflict between two ways of life. One way of life is based upon the will of the majority, free institutions, representative government, free elections, guarantees of individual liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and freedom from political oppression. The second way of life is based upon the imposition of the will of a minority upon the majority, upon control of the press and other means of information by the minority, upon terror and oppression. Such minority terroristic groups have various objectives. They may seek a fascist, a feudal, a communist or other order. But the major issue that is posed for the world is not one of objectives, not one between socialism or free enterprise, not one of progress or reaction, not one of left versus right. The issue is one of methods: between dictatorship and freedom; between servitude of the majority to a minority and freedom to seek progress.

6. The defeat of the axis powers was a milestone in the struggle for freedom. The end of the war, however, did not resolve the issue for all time. It is, in fact, alive in several areas of the world at the present time.

7. It is the policy of the United States to give support to free peoples who are attempting to resist subjugation from armed minorities or from outside forces. The United States will, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations, assist in assuring the ability of peoples, who are now free, to work out their own destiny.

8. This is not a new policy. It was stated in the Atlantic Charter and in the Declaration of the United Nations, and was carried forward in the Yalta Agreement.

9. Through the granting of economic assistance and otherwise, we intend to help the Greek nation to preserve its free institutions.

10. This assistance should of itself give encouragement to other free nations through the notice that will thus be served that the United States recognizes the interdependence of all free countries.

11. A policy based upon the interdependence of free peoples does not necessarily betoken an increase in world tension nor an approach to war. On the contrary, the possibility of war will be greatly lessened. The continuing solidarity and strengthening of the free nations of the world will give support to the United Nations and thus strengthen the foundations of peace.

12. The free countries of the world, whether free enterprise or not, can co-exist peacefully provided there is no plan of conquest, domination or infiltration by any of them. The United States desires earnestly to effect with the Soviet Union a thoroughgoing understanding that will promote such a peaceful living together. It hopes and believes that this can be done.

13. The granting of economic assistance to Greece is consistent with the wholehearted support which the United States is giving to the United Nations. Steps taken by the United Nations to promote reconstruction and insure the stability of nations has proceeded upon assumption that there would be inter-governmental economic assistance. The United States will continue to support and work through the United Nations in every way possible.

14. The present power relationships of the great states preclude the domination of the world by any one of them. Those power relationships cannot be substantially altered by the unilateral action of any one great state without profoundly disturbing the whole structure of the United Nations. Though the status quo is not sacred and unchangeable, we cannot overlook a unilateral gnawing away at the status quo. The Charter of the United Nations forbids aggression, and we cannot allow aggression to be accomplished by coercion or pressure or by subterfuges such as political infiltration.

15. The national security of the United States depends to a large degree on the maintenance of the principles of the United Nations and on maintaining the confidence of other nations in these principles. A seizure of power by a Communist minority in Greece would seriously impair that confidence.

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1. An attached note by the SWNCC Secretariat, dated March 5, states that this report was approved by SWNCC at a special meeting on March 3 and was to “be implemented by the Department of State in collaboration with proper agencies in the other Departments or as otherwise specified in the body of the paper”. For further information on the report, see memorandum by Mr. Russell, March 17, p. 121. Mr. Russell drafted the extract printed here.