at Yalta. At this c!
onference European boundaries, German reparations, and Polish elections were agreed upon.(3) Stalin, the Russian leader, agreed to hold free and fair elections. Later after Roosevelt, who attended these conferences, died Truman became president. He accused the Soviet leader, Stalin, of not holding up to his agreements at Yalta.(4) Stalin wanted to use Poland as a buffer zone to prevent any future invasions from happening through this area. During W.W.II the Soviets had lost 27 million, and Stalin made it clear that in no way would he allow this to happen again.(5) Stalin responded to Truman's accusation with the following words, "I am ready to fulfill your request and do everything possible to reach a harmonious solution. But you demand too much of me. In other words, you demand that I renounce the interests of security of the Soviet Union, but I cannot turn against my country."(6) On the other hand, American General Lucius Clay, who was stationed in post war Germany commented!
" we must have the courage to proceed quickly with the establishment of a government for western Germany...42 million Germans in the British and American zones represent today the strongest outpost against Communist penetration that exists anywhere."(7) At this response Truman changed his attitude toward the Soviets with the words, " there isn't any difference between the totalitarian Russian government and the Hitler government."(8) Furthermore, America decided to keep Stalin out of the loop about the Manhattan project, which furthered distrust, because Stalin learn about the bomb through espionage. Truman's change in attitude toward Stalin, from that of FDR's negotiation with &qu
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