They're In Trouble, Too
- Harry takes a break from Greece for a minute, and turns to Greece's neighbor, Turkey. They're also struggling.
- Just as in Greece, Great Britain can no longer provide economic and financial aid to Turkey. Truman believes that this will put a halt on the "modernization necessary for the maintenance of its national integrity, (53)" or in other words, "it will end the western cash-flow that happens to be the only thing stopping Turkey from falling into the hands of the Soviets."
- They need money, and if we stop giving it to them, the Russians will 100% step in and start giving it instead.
- Then, Truman plays one of his most important cards, sentence (54): Turkey is a key geographical point for maintaining Western control of the Middle East.
- (Seriously, go back and read it—this is a huge moment in the speech).
- And, in case you didn't get it the first two times: the Brits are backing out, meaning the U.S. is the only country capable of making sure none of this bad stuff happens.