ANSWER TO STALIN

Series

Series Name

The March of Time 14th Year

Issue

Issue No.

1

Date Released

1948

Length of issue (in feet)

1700

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1ANSWER TO STALIN

Story

Story No. within this Issue

1 / 1

Summary

The March of Time synopsis: Is the atomic bomb the only safeguard against Soviet aggression or is there a more effective weapon that will halt Russia’s bid for world domination? The latest March of Time suggests that armaments alone will not solve the problem.

Reviewing the tactics by which Russia has expanded her sphere of influence to an area that now covers half the earth, the film moves through Korea, China, Malaya and the Middle East to show how the Communists have engendered unrest and intensified internal strife. In the Eastern Mediterranean, Russia still manoeuvres to gain control of the Dardanelles, while mounting evidence of the Kremlin’s policy can be seen in her support of the Greek rebel forces in the bitter civil war, and her subjugation of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Roumania and Eastern Germany, culminating in the stalemate over Berlin which brought the situation perilously near to starting another world war.

With Russia continuing on her uncompromising course, there are many who advocate an immediate showdown as the solution of the situation - but, urges the film, are armaments the only answer? In the summer of 1947, America’s Secretary of State, General Marshall, announced a plan, to become known as ECA, that would aid the nations of Europe with money with supplies to get them on a sound operating basis and coincidentally strengthen them against Soviet aggression. The first appropriation was five billion dollars, and an administration staff was set up with Paul Hoffman as its chief. From the first day that he became head of ECA, Hoffman made urgent trips to Europe for first-hand views of the situation and to decide the amount which should be allocated to the various countries. Fact-finding research into each country’s need is followed by consultation with government leaders, and the film shows Hoffman in counsel with the French Foreign Minister, Robert Schumann; in Italy with Premier de Gasperi and his Foreign Minister, Count Sforza; in Western Germany planning for the use of the three hundred and twenty-four million dollars allotted to Bizonia; and in England with Sir Stafford Cripps. Greatly encouraged to discover that Europe is slowly but surely getting back towards economic health, Hoffman is hopeful that soon ECA aid can be concentrated on the machinery and equipment that will effect a permanent recovery.

Researcher Comments

This story was included in Vol.14 No.17 of the US edition.

Keywords

Foreign aid; War and conflict

Written sources

The March of Time Promotional Material   Lobby Card, Used for synopsis

Credits:

Production Co.

Time Inc.