The Truman Doctrine: Origins and Significance, 1947

Abstract

The fateful transfer was initiated officially at 9.00 a.m. on Monday, 24 February 1947, when British Ambassador Lord Inverchapel handed to Secretary of State George Marshall two aide-mémoires — one on Greece, the other on Turkey. ¹ In essence, the British acknowledged the importance of protecting Greece and Turkey against Soviet influence, predicted the imminent fall of the Greek government in the absence of rapid economic and military aid, and requested the United States to assume the major responsibility for providing the assistance that the British economy could no longer support.