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In December 1947, Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs William Clayton said if aid wasn't provided, "the Iron Curtain would then move westward at least to the English Channel."While implementation was being discussed, he said America "hold(s) in (its) hands the powerful weapon of discontinuance of aid if contrary to our expectations any country fails to live up to our expectations."
Economic Stabilization Bureau head Chester Bowles was candid, saying:
"The real argument for the Marshall Plan is a bolstering of the American system for future years."
The plan was named for popular General George Marshall. Post-war, Truman's popularity fell sharply. Putting his name on it risked public anger enough perhaps to get congressional rejection. People accepted wartime sacrifices. They expected more than they got post-war, yet compared to today, they got plenty.
Marshall played the game. He pitched the plan. He delivered canned speeches. He disingenuously claimed it was to relieve "hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos." In fact, it was about saving capitalism from communism and Stalinist influence.
America emerged from WW II unscathed. Unlike European and Asian countries, its cities weren't bombed or invaded. It was the one true economic, political and military superpower.
Muscle-flexing showed its strength. "The Marshall Plan was a crucial political ace as part of (its) global" agenda. UK embassy officials in Washington were told that Britain's "socialism" could stand in the way of aid.
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