American Diplomatic Policy of the Cold War Era in the Far East and South East Asia.
Hello, my name is Masaki Shigeyuki. Ifm 4th grade of Osaka University. Today, I will make a presentation of my graduate piece. My theme is American Diplomatic Policy of the Cold War Era in the Far East and South East Asia.
First, as introduction, I say why I was interested in history of the United States. I have two reasons. One is that Ifm interested in Asia. Indeed, you say I should choose the major of Eastern History, or Japanese History. But I think present Asia, especially Japan was effected on American Policies, and Japan cannot become Japan like today. Of course, only United States effect Japanese development, I think the roles of Asia and Japan were so important for there development. But this is essential of my piece, so Ifll take this later.
Another is that The Cold War became gHistoryh, I think. Now, It past more than ten years, so I think we can recognize this theme not as a currently issue, but a historical issue.
These two reasons made me study American Diplomatic Policy in the cold war. Then, Ifll introduce you the real part of my piece. First, I want to take the origin of the Cold War.
The conflict of the super powers existed from the Yalta Conference, like as the Cold War, in later. This was committed in early 1945, plainly speaking, this conference showed the power balance between U.S.A and Soviet Union. One example is United States recognized Poland as the influence area of Soviet Union, factually. But soon United States increased distrust for Soviet Union over German problem, it became important issue in the Cold War era.
Second is The Truman Doctrine. U.S. cleared up the Cold War in this doctrine. Its historical significance is that this showed the change of diplomatic policy of the U.S. This background was Greek and Turkish problem caused by British inadequacy remaining influence of these countries. This problem leads the U.S. to get engaged in these areas, and later all over the world.
Please show the screen. Next, Ifll pick up the Diplomatic Policy in the Cold War, especially until the Korean War.
First, Ifll say the Hegemony of the U.S. Before it, Ifll explain the conflict of the theory. The study of American diplomatic history has many ideas, for example, there are the theories stressing political elements , economic sides...etc. So, my themefs difficulty is existence of these complex theories. My idea is closed to latter theory, stressing economic sides. Representative researcher of this theory is Thomas McCormic, for instant. He emphasized the Modern World-System theory, and U.S. of this era was getting Hegemony, so diplomatic policy of U.S. formulated as the position of world economic, politic, ideological conditioner.
In and after the World War 2, International division of labor was important concept of the U.S. Because they thought theory of comparative advantage, in Japanese ärDÊà, got the world rich. They conceived as the industrial part in the world economy, Western Europe, especially Germany, and Japan. So, diplomatic policy of U.S. emphasized there areas.
This example is dollar gap problem. It is that the excess of imports from United States lead luck of dollar, dollar gap. It got serious especially in Western Europe and Japan. So, United States worked out support measures, for example Marshall Plan, and this plan got degree of success.
But, some of the American citizens and Congress thought these policies not good, because their concept of American diplomacy was Isolationism. They were passive for international American positions, so the government had to make a sort of move. This is the Truman Doctrine, stressed threat of communism. This moved passive people to change their ideas, therefore the government got able to support measures. Like this, domestic elements were greatly important for formulating diplomatic policy.
In the diplomatic offices, there are two types, one is up-from-the-ranks officers, for example, George Kennan, another is in and outers, Dean Achesoncand so on. Particularly, latter officers had wide view, because they go in and out of office. By the Korean War, in the diplomatic office, up-from-the-ranks prevailed. Their policies have non-military feature compared with after polices. One of this reasons is they recognized the American powerfs limit, so they didnft get engaged in the area which has non-vital interest. This recognition was showed in the defensive line for communism, for example, Dean Achesonfs speech in 1950. To cite a case, Korea was out of the defensive line in this speech, not only Korea but also all Asia were disdained compared with Western Europe.
Then, I begin the main theme. It is the diplomatic policy of the U.S. in Eastern Asia. After the WW2, U.S. expected to Democratic China, as a core of eastern Asia. But, since 1947, Democratic China appeared to lose the conflict with Chinese Community Party, so U.S. got to focus Japan instead of China. In the economic reconstruction in Asia, U.S. planned Japanfs restoration by priority. Because, U.S. emphasized the international division of labor, Japan was focused as the industrial core area to restore all over the Asia. To realize this plan, U.S. worked out to unite between Japan and South East Asia, as the industrial part and supplier, market part. The reason of choosing South East Asia is below. That is, before WW2, Japan united with the colony of Japan and China, but after the war, Japan lost these areas. Specially, it is China that is the most effected for Japan, so some of Japanese people wanted to trade with China. American policy was deferent. U.S. cannot receive Communism China, so U.S. intervene Japanese Trade Policy in 1950. In addition, Japan had dollar gap problem. Japan was the excess of imports from United States, so U.S. sought the solution of this problem by Japanese and South East Asian trade, for, South East Asia belongs Staring, pound currency block, so, if increasing import from South East Asia, Japan got not to pay dollars to the U.S.
But, this plan had not always been succeed in early 1950fs. Because this, international division of labor, reminded the colonialism as a result. So, the nationalism in South East Asia got up, and this connected to late era.
Finally, my issue is two points. One is American Roles in the eastern Asian economic recovery. And another is the autonomy of the eastern Asia. It is sure that U.S. played a great role in the eastern Asian economic recovery, but I hard to say degree of the American role, and eastern Asian self-motivating roles. In specific, I want to focus in economical relationship between South East Asia and Japan. But, until now, Ifve focused in Korea and Korean War, and American defensive line for communism, so I donft know about this theme very much. Still, I will study this theme intensively.
Questions and Answers summarized by Eriko Ohiwa
Q: What is the gdollar gaph?
A: The gdollar gaph is the difference of the strength of dollar between the U.S. and Japan, and west-European countries. In those days, the export from the U.S. to Japan and west-Europe was increasing, while the import to the U.S. from Japan and west-Europe was likely to be small. As a result, in such countries they didnft have the enough dollars, the strength of dollar was getting stronger and stronger.
Q: You said the Cold War became history. Is there any evidence of that?
A: Current diplomatic studies are about the fight against the terrorism. That is why the Cold War became history. It means that the importance of terrorism was much more than that of the Cold War.
Q: But you think that the Cold War is more important than the terrorism, right?
A: For Japan, the Cold War is more significant than the terrorism. Prime Minister Abe said it is so important for Japanese people to get rid of the post-war regime. Particularly, the issue of the Cold War is so serious for Far East Asia.
C: The last question is good question.
Q: The Vietnam War broke out in the Southeast Asia. What do you think the connection between the Vietnam War and the Cold War is like?
A: American diplomatic attitude toward Southeast Asia which was the speculation of the establishment pro-American government drove the nationalism of these area.
C: Masaki did not answer the question properly.
It is true that the Cold war became "History", but at the same time, the Cole war is present problem, I think. Because we live in the situation directly made from the Cold war. And people who have lived in the age of Cold war still move the world. (For example, neo-conservative in America) So I agree with him about that point.
By Junnosuke Shibu, U4 student
Mr. Masaki's presentation is interesting in term of focusing on policy of East and South East Asia from American Diplomatic Policy of the Cold War Era. As to my study, I want to research pirates of Asia in detail and compare with other pirates in terms of influence on trade and international opinion.
by Kakeru Fujiwara(3rd grade)
As for Mr. Masaki's presentation, I think that studying American history in the Cold War era is very important. It is because Asian countries have been affected by American policies very much and we can recognize the Cold War historical issue. This issue was too difficult for me so I should study much about it.
by Sakamoto Yoko, U4 student
Mr. Masaki's presentation was difficult for me to understand because I have enough knowledge about American Diplomatic policy during the Cold War, and the words were not familiar to me. But he tried to tell us about his study well.
by Kanenari Akiko, U4 student
I don't know much about American diplomatic policy in the Cold War era, so Mr. Masaki's presentation was difficult for me to understand. However, as he said, Japan is still influenced greatly by this policy. Therefore, I think the subject of his presentation is important issue for Japan. And I think it is interesting to deal with the American diplomatic policy from Asian perspective.
by Rika Kobata, U4 student