Course 2, Volume 1A. American Foreign Policy in Growth and Action Page: 82
This book is part of the collection entitled: National WASP WWII Museum and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the National WASP WWII Museum.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY IN GROWTH AND ACTION
can thus assure peace. This must include eventual
adjustment of national armaments in such a manner
that the rule of law cannot be successfully challenged
and that the burden of armaments may be reduced
to a minimum. . . . It is plain that one of the insti-
tutions which must be established and be given
vitality is an international court of justice. It is
equally clear that, in the process of re-establishing
international order, the United Nations must exercise
surveillance over aggressor nations until such time as
the latter demonstrate their willingness and ability to
live at peace with other nations. How long such sur-
veillance will need to continue must depend upon the
rapidity with which the peoples of Germany, Japan,
Italy, and their satellites give convincing proof that
they have repudiated and abandoned the monstrous
philosophy of superior race and conquest by force
and have embraced loyally the basic principles of
peaceful processes. . . . excessive trade barriers . . .
must be reduced, and practices which impose injuries
on others and divert trade from its natural economic
course must be avoided. . . . Continuous self-develop-
ment of nations and individuals in a framework of
effective cooperation with others is the sound and
logical road to the higher standards of life which we
all crave and seek. . . .
In this spirit of united effort the nations
opposing the Axis carried on the war through the
disheartening months of early 1942. The United
States expanded the scope of its
Relief and lend-lease program, with arrange-
rehabilitation ments for sending equipment and
for the allied supplies to its allies in every theater
nations of war. Likewise, plans to provide
for the relief and rehabilitation of
the peoples of less fortunate regions were under-
taken. Pending the organization of the United
Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration,
familiarly known as UNRRA, the United States
set up an Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabili-
tation Operations with Herbert H. Lehman, for-
mer governor of New York State, as its Director.
The aim of this office and of its successor,
UNRRA, was to alleviate the suffering, privation,
dislocation, and disease affecting the peoples of
areas overrun by war or threatened by the sec-
ondary effects of the global strife. In the name of
humanity, the united nations acted in concert to
provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and
other forms of relief in many corners of the
world. Just as they combined their military efforts
to fight the enemy, the united nations consoli-
dated their physical and spiritual resources to
offer aid and hope to those peoples left in need bythe fortunes of war. This international effort was
well within the aims of American foreign policy
and there was every disposition on the part of the
American people to support governmental ac-
tion to strengthen our allies through the avenues
open to UNRRA.
Thus, as we shall see in a later section, the
military, political, and social implications of the
wartime partnership of the united nations fore-
shadowed the creation of the United Nations
Organization in 1945.3 Before that date, however,
serious strains developed from time to time,
endangering the future of international coopera-
tion.(46) Nevertheless, the common experiences of
allies during the fighting years served to strengthen
the determination of individuals and govern-
ments to make the victories of peace as enduring
as the victories of war.
3. Beginning the March toward
Ultimate Victory
On the wideflung military fronts the dismal
happenings of late 1941 and early 1942 left the
allied nations little else but hope for the ultimate
triumph of their cause.(47) The im-
The allies mediate realities of combat against
plan to take Axis forces in the far reaches of the
the initiative Pacific as well as in Europe, North
Africa, the eastern Mediterranean,
and on the Atlantic overshadowed diplomatic
measures. Almost to the end of 1942 defeat and
retreat was the unrelieved refrain for the allies.
The need for some dramatic and bold stroke to
reverse the tide occupied the allied planners for
many months. During this time Winston Church-
ill made a second visit to the United States and
in a series of meetings between members of his
staff and their American counterparts the pro-
gram for seizing the initiative was begun. Rus-
sian and Chinese representatives also conferred on
global planning with the British and Americans.
At the time of Churchill's trip to Washington
in June 1942 the British armies were being driven
back in Libya by the desert forces of Germany and
Italy. The hard-pressed Russians were clamoring
for a second front in Europe to relieve the
impact of Nazi attacks. And the Japanese cam-
paigns against the islands of the Southwest Pa-
' See pp. 99-102 below.82
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View 159 pages within this book that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Air University (U.S.). Extension Course Institute. Course 2, Volume 1A. American Foreign Policy in Growth and Action, book, April 1959; Alabama. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1077937/m1/96/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting National WASP WWII Museum.