The war is going well [Subject describes strategy in the various theatres of war, outcomes of various battles, and praises the bravery of our armed forces and the rebels in the occupied areas. He mentions a member of the French Resistance, Albert Camus, who edited a newsletter Combat during the Nazi occupation of Paris. If not already identified, I recommend creating a file on him. -AS].
But the peace is in trouble. Stalin promised FDR that Poland would have free elections, but Poland is only free to elect a government friendly to the Soviet Union. FDR and Stalin exchanged testy notes over this issue. The Chinese are headed to a civil war between the Communists and Chiang Kai-shek’s corrupt and dictatorial Nationalist regime. FDR and H.A. tried to get the Nationalists to implement reforms and work with the Communists but to no avail. The Soviet Union is not the only nation bent on expanding their influence. Our desire to see self-determination in Indochina is being blocked by British and French colonial claims. They intend to reclaim their empires, and want us to help. H.A. opposes both old and new colonial claims. I’m told that Winston Churchill is very unhappy with H.A.’s promotion of self-determination.
In an attempt to sooth the nerves of some members of the Democratic Party leadership, FDR appointed Harry Truman as Secretary of Commerce. Truman sees the Soviet Union as a threat to our way of life and following the war, since they are currently our ally in the fight against fascism, to pursue a containment policy. H.A. fears that treating the Soviet Union as an enemy is foolish and will fuel Russia’s paranoia and make them more aggressive. He believes that building rather than severing relationships will be more effective at maintaining world peace.
I agree with H.A. The anti-Soviet efforts will just promote conflict and keep our nation on a high military alert, which is accompanied with a high military price tag. However, I don’t trust the Communists. I can’t forgive them for what they did to my friends in Spain. Some blame Stalin, but Lenin and Trotsky wiped out the anarchists, Mensheviks, and Left Socialist revolutionaries who made the Russian Revolution possible to consolidate power for their own Bolshevik clique.
© 2012 Ron Millar
© 2012 Ron Millar
