Figure 1.--Here we see Greek refufgees having a crack at spaghetti of course made with wheat flour. The newspaper caption read, "A Greek reg=fugee child, one of 799l,999 driven from their homes in war torn areas, master th difficult art of eating spaghrtti in Greece, the hardest hit of all the ciuntris, food was the firstbessential." The photograph was dated May 10, 1950.

The British were the primary Allied country involved in the liberation of Greece. They prevented a Communist take over after the Germans withdrew (October 1944). And provide food assiatance to feed the Greeks. The economic situation in Britain was, however, deteriorating. The Labour Party won the first General Election since the outbreak of World War II (1945). They instituted a wide range of Socilaist reforms including nationanlization of basic industry. Rather than stimullating economic growth as Labour expected, it actually retarded growth and recovery. The British Gicernment as a result, informed the United States that due to its weakening economy, it could no longer continue to provide military and economic support to Greece (1946). [Bullock, ch. 8.] Britain' inability to maintain a major role was a factor in the formulation of the Truman Doctrine. After the War, the Americans found it imnpossible to work with the Soviets in a joint occupation of Germany abd that the Soviets were not fullfilling their commitment their commitmenbts at Yalta to allow free elections in Easrern Europe, especually Poland. The Truman Doctrine was the first statement of post-War an American foreign policy to counter Soviet geopolitical expansion--essentially the Cold War. President Harry S. Truman abbinced his plans to Congress (March 1947). The initial concerns were Turkey (which the Sovies were pressuring over the straits) and Grrece (where Comminist guerella swere atempting to seizw control). The British Economic Mission, operating under the terms of the London agreement of January 1946 and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization had been attempting to address the food issue in Greece. The American aid mission to Greece was established (June 1947). Dwight P. Griswold, a former governor of agricultural state of Nebraska was chosen as chief of mission. Once the Greek economic program had been consolidated with the overall European Recovery Program (the Marshal Plan), American Ambassador to Greece, Henry F. Grady, became head of the mission. United States Government departments and agencies were drawn on for the Greek aid program. Here the idea was not just to provide food aid. Private groups like CARE played an important role in food shipments. The primary goal was to assist Greece in improving the agricultural sector and increasing productuvity. Here there was considerabkle success. Farmers mamaged to harvest a wheat crop that was 90 per cent of the pre-War average, compared to 30 per cent at the end of the War. The American program included providing seed, fertilizer and farm machinery. And demonstration and training projects were organized to help Greek farmers makie full use of the new equipment and methods.

Sources

Bullock, Alan. Ernest Bevin: Foreign Secretary, 1945–1951 (1983).

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