A Probe Into The American Policy Toward The Berlin Blockade

This article mainly probes into American policy toward the Berlin blockade. Facing to the Soviet blockade, firstly, the United States made a decision: stay in Berlin and supply the city by air. Thereafter, under the background of American and British airlift strengthening, the United States tried to solve crisis by diplomatic talks. At last, the crisis was settled by peaceful manner.The thesis includes three parts:The first part introduces the background of the Berlin blockade: on the one hand, the cold war already started; on the other hand, There are some differences between the United States and the Soviet Union in German problems. In addition, the part also narrates the American forecasts and measures to the Soviet conduct in early stage.The second part discusses the decision-making of the United States. After the Soviet Union blocked Berlin completely, the American military authority in Berlin and the Washington government made the decision: stay in Berlin and supply the city by air. Moreover, this part also includes the American decision-making's features and reasons in early stage. Furthermore, the part still relates that American tries to solve crisis by diplomatic talks. Under the background of American and British airlift strengthening, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the USSR carried through Moscow conversation and the Military Governors' technical discussion in Berlin.The third part is about the American policies after the abortion of Moscow conversation. The United States referred the matter to the U. N., Meanwhile, it split speedily Berlin and Germany, and it accelerated creating a western Germany State and the NATO. In the spring of 1949, the Western countries and Soviet Union were preparing to create two German states. The American airlift got through successfully the winter of 1948. The counterblockade probably damaged East Germany's economy far more than the West's. The Soviet leaders felt that the Berlin blockade couldn't succeed, So Stalin hinted the American that the blockade might lift, and the United States took the opportunity rapidly. Then the Jessop-Malik conversation started, the United States came to an agreement withthe Soviet Union on lifting the blockade finally.The article argues that the airlift and diplomatic talks are two primary policies of the American in dealing with Berlin crisis. Both of the policies take effect. They are supplement each other: the airlift adds the negotiated chip; the diplomatic talks gain valued time for the airlift. The Berlin crisis and its peaceful settlement show cold war's characteristics strikingly. Although the Berlin blockade conduced the strained relations between the American and the Soviet Union, the two parties all allowed some leeway. At last, they settled the crisis through peaceful negotiation rather than war. This embodies adequately self-control mechanism of the cold war.