The development of the idea of imminent Russian surprise attack
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Abstract
The problem of this thesis is to trace the development of American attitudes toward Russia from the closing phase of World War II to the point at which the fear of the imminent danger of Russian surprise attack was a basic part of this attitude.
Although Americans generally had been negatively disposed toward Russia before the Second World War, during the first year of the alliance this attitude underwent a drastic change. Both governmental and public opinion by 1943 were overwhelmingly favorable toward the Soviet Union. Statements by government officials, articles by journalists, and public opinion polls indicated a genuine admiration for Russia and an expectation that future relations between the two countries would be characterized by mutual respect and co-operation. There was a sub-stratum of hostility and distrust in some quarters, but it represented a distinct minority.
This optimism on the,part of the American people and their government continued into the closing phases of the war. Americans were willing to concede to Russia the territories she deman4ed and agreed that Russia should have friendly governments in the states of Eastern Europe. Under the terms of the Yalta Conference in early 1945, these "friendly governments" in Russia's western neighbors would be established by the occupying forces, would be representative of all democratic elements in the population, and would hold free elections as soon as possible [TRUNCATED]
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Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University
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