Marshall feared that their poverty might make them vulnerable to Soviet wooing, causing them to attach them to communism. America, therefore, felt that it had to preempt potential Russian manipulation by stepping in there first. Although Marshall emphasized that the program was open to all European nations, he structured it in such a way (by making capitalism part of its expected character and linchpin of performance) that it effectively debarred communist-related nations from participating.
A few years later, in 1950 Truman expanded his strategy of containment by issuing a report (the NSC-68) that stressed employment of U.S. military to impede communist expansion. Observed the National Security Council:
It was and continues to be cardinal in this policy that we possess superior overall power in ourselves or in dependable combination with other likeminded nations. One of the most important ingredients of power is military strength (Shmoop.com)
To that end, the NSC called for dramatically increased taxes for miliatry purposes and for significat militray buildip.
Describe the effects of these diplomatic efforts for the U.S. And other countries
Russia reacted violently with Soviet Foreign Minister VM Molotov walking out of the conference and forbidding the Soviet bloc from participating. Meanwhile, sixteen Western European nations accepted the aid. The Marshall Plan, as originally intended by America, rebounded for America's benefit, as Western European nations not only found themselves bound by principles of duty and gratitude to America but used their money / aid to buy American goods. America thus consolidated its economic strength and reputation of power nation as a result of this Plan. In fact, the Marshall Plan may quite likely have...
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