Letter from Eleanor Roosevelt to Harry S. Truman

Situation.

Our domestic and foreign policies are are so closely tied together and the various moves made of late are so politically oriented, I feel some very clear sighted thinking is needed. 

April 17, 1947

[Above paragraph is scribbled over]

Dear Mr. President:

I have carried on a lengthy correspondence with Secretary Acheson and I have seen a State Department representative sent by Secretary Acheson, to explain the Greek-Turkish situation to me.

I went to see Averill Harriman the other day to try to get some enlightenment from him.  I know that his appointment was very favorably received.  Harry Hopkins thought highly of him but that was largely because he knew he could count on Averill to carry out directions.  He is rich and generous and well meaning.  I have know him since he was a little boy.  I like him very much personally but I came away from talking to him, feeling that there was not sufficient realization of the domestic situation we are facing and its tie up with the foreign situation.

Our domestic and foreign policies are so closely tied together and the various moves made of late are so politically oriented, I feel some very clear sighted thinking is needed.

Between the Pepper Bill and the Vandenberg Amendment to the Administration Bill, I hope that you might find some middle course.  For that reason I am enclosing a copy of a wire which has come to me that expresses anxiety and makes some suggestions similar to those which have been made by other people.  I am not sending it because it came from Aubrey Williams, but because it is comprehensive enough to be a good sample of a considerable amount of thinking which seems to be going on throughout the country.

I do not believe that the Democratic party can [win] by going the Republican party one better in conservatism on the home front.  Nor do I believe that taking over Mr. Churchill’s policies in the Near East, in the name of democracy, is the way to really create a barrier to communism or promote democracy.

I do not think your advisers have looked far enough ahead.  Admiral Leahy as always will think of this country as moving on its own power.

Both in Commerce and in Agriculture, we have not been far sighted enough to see

hearing her on the radio. [crossed out]
Very cordially yours, [crossed out]

that:
1.  The safe guarding of food supplies for the world, even though it might mean keeping a little more than we need on hand was a wise policy.

2.  The getting of business men to work in Europe and Russia is the only way we can really hope to rehabilitate Europe and establish democracy.

Mr. Acheson is rather more sympathetic to the British point of view that I would be and what with Mr. Lewis Douglas, who will certainly be sympathetic to Mr. Churchill’s point of view, I am afraid we are apt to lose sight of the fact that if we do not wish to fight Russia, we must be both honest and firm with her.  She must understand us, but she must also trust us.

Please give my kind regards to Mrs. Truman and to Margaret.  I hope the latter is feeling encouraged about her work.  So many people have spoken to me favorably after hearing her on the radio.

Very cordially yours,